In another indication the increased prevalence of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are not likely a death knell for the collision repair industry, a recently-published study estimates there will be about 790,000 “risk events” per year on the roads in the EU in 2029 attributable to reduced performance of lane-keeping assistant systems alone.
Risk events are failures of the system that reduce performance. The researchers used lane-keeping systems as an example to investigate the specific impact on the function of ADAS from age-related wear and tear, damage to the system or a lack of calibration of cameras after windshield replacement.
“Assistance systems must function reliably for many years,” said Matthias Schubert of TÜV Rheinland, which conducted the study in collaboration with the British Transport Research Laboratory. “With our study, we have gained initial insights into the circumstances under which lane-keeping systems might function to a limited extent only---and into the consequences this may have for road safety.”
As part of the study, TÜV Rheinland drove a vehicle with simulated damages on the windshield or incorrect calibration of the cameras on a test track. Components were artificially aged. In one scenario, there were also changes made to the chassis.
Researchers observed the function of the lane-keeping assistance system deteriorated when, for example, there were simulated stone impacts in the windshield. In rare cases, the system switched off without warning. The vehicle also drove over lane markings without warning or reaction from the system.
Schubert believes too little is known about how accidents, improper repairs or wear and tear affect the functionality of assistance systems and thus road safety in the long term. The study found failures could lead to as many as 2.3 million risk events each year in Europe alone.
John Yoswick