However, ‌as common as ADAS are, the collision repair industry hasn't fully caught up. And that’s a problem, because ADAS changes a lot about auto repair. Not all shops are equipped to handle ADAS, and the consequences of getting it wrong are serious.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are electronic features that help drivers steer, stop, and brake their vehicles. ADAS use sensors, cameras, radar, LiDAR, and onboard software to interpret surroundings and provide warnings and interventions.

Popular ADAS features include:

●       ACC: Automatically changes your vehicle's speed to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you.

●       AEB: Detects an imminent collision with a vehicle, cyclist, pedestrian, or obstacle and automatically applies the brakes if you can’t react in time.

●       Blind spot monitoring: Alerts you if there’s a vehicle in your blind spot when changing lanes.

●       LKA and LDW (lane departure warning): Sends an alert if you unintentionally drift out of your lane and can gently steer the vehicle back into place.

●       Traffic sign recognition: Uses cameras to read speed limits and other road signs and displays them on your dashboard.

ADAS features depend on millimetre-level precision to function correctly. This means even a minor collision can knock them out of alignment. What’s even more concerning is that these misalignments are often invisible, at least to the naked (and untrained) eye. So while most drivers might think about the visible damage after a collision, they should also ponder if there’s damage they can’t see.

What happened to the sensors behind the bumper? How’s the camera mounted behind the rearview mirror? Is the radar unit tucked inside the grille OK? These are the questions collision repair technicians must ask. Because while these components may look untouched, and may even test as functional, their alignment, the precise angle at which they read the road, could be off. And this can be dangerous.

It’s why calibration is essential. After any auto repair that affects an ADAS component, or even the area around it, the system in question requires recalibration back to manufacturer specifications. That process comes in two forms: static calibration and dynamic calibration.

●       Static calibration: Collision repair techs do this in a controlled indoor environment, using target boards, precise measurements, and diagnostic equipment to reset the system while the vehicle is stationary.

●       Dynamic calibration: This requires driving the vehicle under specific conditions, including particular speeds, road types, and distances, so the system can recalibrate itself in real time.

Many vehicles require both types of calibration after an auto repair. The threshold for triggering a required recalibration is lower than most drivers expect. For example, a windshield replacement almost always requires recalibration because the forward-facing camera mounts to the glass. The same is true for a wheel alignment, bumper repair, or any work near a radar or sensor housing. In short, recalibration isn’t just needed after serious collisions. It’s required after a wide range of auto repairs.

ADAS features are common on far more than just luxury vehicles today. Over 90% of new vehicles sold now come standard with at least one ADAS feature. Therefore, it only stands to reason that most collision repair shops today perform ADAS calibration as part of a standard auto repair.

The problem is that precise calibration isn't easy, nor is it cheap. It requires professional diagnostic scan tools, calibration target systems, and a dedicated workspace with a flat, level floor and enough space to position targets at the exact distances the system requires. It also requires collision repair technicians who are trained not just in general auto repair, but specifically in ADAS diagnostics and calibration procedures, ideally with the right certifications to back it up.

Many independent collision repair shops don't have all these things. Some have the tools but not the trained staff. Some have staff with general knowledge but lack ‌manufacturer-specific equipment. Others quietly outsource calibration to a dealership or third party, which may be fine, but only if it's disclosed, documented, and included as a verified step in the repair process.

The collision repair businesses that are the most concerning are the ones that skip the step entirely, or which perform a calibration check without the proper setup, producing a result that looks complete on paper but leaves the system misaligned on the road.

For drivers, the unsettling part is that a mis-calibrated ADAS feature often gives no obvious warning. The vehicle may drive normally; no dashboard light appears, no warning signal beeps. So, the lane-keeping feature still seems to work––until the moment you need it the most. During a sudden stop, an unexpected lane drift, or a vehicle appearing in a blind spot, that mis-calibration reveals itself. And frighteningly, by then it may be too late.

It’s important for drivers to understand this isn't about mistrust; it's about asking questions the auto repair industry has been slow to answer.

Drivers should ask the technician they’re speaking to questions like:

●       Do you have in-house ADAS calibration capabilities?

●       Do your technicians have ADAS-related certifications?

●       Will you provide a calibration report with my repair?

Ultimately, ADAS have made vehicles safer. But these systems can only do this if professional collision repair technicians do their jobs correctly. This is a special report for our Formula 1 readers.