How to Ensure Your Car's ADAS Systems Are Functioning Correctly

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, commonly known as ADAS, are a set of technological solutions integrated into vehicles to enhance the safety of drivers, passengers, and other road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

Currently, it is estimated that 44% of vehicles are equipped with at least one ADAS, with parking assistance being the most common, present in 36% of vehicles. Some systems perform crucial tasks such as warning of a vehicle before a lane change or stopping the vehicle if there is an object or person in its path.

Their purpose is multifaceted; they improve the driving experience and, more importantly, act with varying degrees of autonomy from the driver to intervene in various vehicle systems: braking/acceleration, steering, and signalling. This enhances safety as these systems can anticipate and prevent collisions or alert to dangers.

Automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping systems, reverse detection, intelligent speed assistance, and adaptive cruise control are some of the mandatory ADAS for newly registered vehicles. From July 2024, with the implementation of new European regulations, all newly registered vehicles must be equipped with a selection of ten ADAS. The aim is to improve road safety and allow drivers to increasingly benefit from these technological innovations.

Many of these ADAS are already present in the Spanish automotive market. According to a study by GIPA, parking assistance is present in 36% of vehicles, followed by lane-keeping systems (21%) and blind-spot warning (17%). Also noteworthy are autonomous emergency braking (15%), impact mitigation systems (15%), and traffic sign recognition (13%).

"The failure of these ADAS can pose a significant problem for the driver, who may become overly reliant on their proper functioning. At the slightest issue or doubt, it is crucial to conduct an electronic diagnosis to verify their correct operation," says Víctor Pardo, Head of Electronic Repair and Electric Vehicle at Norauto Spain.

Like any technology, they can fail. Hence, it is essential to ensure they are functioning correctly. The automotive maintenance chain highlights that electronic diagnostics is the best way to detect if any of these systems are not operating correctly, and therefore, periodic checks are recommended.

Typically, the vehicle's dashboard or multimedia system will alert to any faults. If, despite no alerts, these systems are not functioning as they should, an electronic check is advisable. It is also recommended if the vehicle has been involved in an accident or even a minor collision. "Sometimes, minor collisions are not given the importance they deserve, yet they can affect many of these systems. It is important to remember that many of them operate thanks to cameras and sensors installed throughout the vehicle," notes Víctor Pardo.

Diagnostic machines allow for a comprehensive vehicle check-up and can detect all possible faults, especially those that may not be as visible, such as electronic ones. It is crucial to have professionals who can interpret the results and locate the source of the problem to provide a solution.

Vehicle manufacturers have progressively included these systems in their high-end launches as extras, gradually reaching entry-level models. In regulatory terms, it was in 2019 when the European Union (EU) approved the Safety Regulation, which included the new regulation of general vehicle safety requirements, occupant protection, and vulnerable road users.

The European Union has proposed the 'Vision Zero' programme to reduce road accident fatalities to zero across Europe by 2050, and to achieve this, it is necessary to implement ADAS in cars.