Advanced driver-assistance systems, or simply ADAS, are one of the most helpful, and needed parts, for operating your car as safely as possible. With more and more distractions added to our lives, it’s essential to stay alert and focused while on the road, and ensuring that your ADAS are calibrated correctly is the first step to vehicle safety. 

What Is ADAS?

Advanced driver-assistance systems are technological features to increase alertness and alarm potential dangers quickly to the driver. A growing number of new cars in the past five or so years are equipped with ADAS. But as more features get added, the more important it becomes to confirm that all of them are working properly.

The more popular features include: 

• Adaptive cruise control which will change the chosen speed of the car if needed to keep a safe distance between a vehicle ahead, and it will continue to change speed depending on the distance.
• Cruise control itself is considered an advanced driver-assistance system, and, as you probably know, is essential for a comfortable road trip 

• Forward collision warning which will alert the driver, either with a pop-up display on the dashboard or an audio alert, if the car is getting too close to another vehicle.
• Lane departure warning is especially helpful on long drives and keeps tired or distracted drivers awake and attentive. This feature alerts the driver once they start to deviate from their lane without using a turn signal, which typically means the driver is unintentionally drifting.
• Lane centering is another similar feature that helps keep the driver centered in a lane with either a display to depict and confirm to the driver that they are centered or by even autonomously taking over the wheel if the driver is drifting too much. 

• Blind spot monitors are a favorite to many drivers. This feature uses cameras to watch both of the driver’s blind spots and a display on the side mirrors to warn if anyone is in that side’s blind spot, so the driver knows when it is fully safe to merge. 
• Automatic headlight high-beam activation is a new system that helps a driver properly use high-beam lights during the night. This system uses a camera that faces forward in the rearview mirror to detect approaching headlights from oncoming cars, so it will shut down the high-beams until the headlights are gone and then flick them back on once there are no more headlights. 
• Parking assist, or self-parking, is especially growing in popularity since it takes away the fear and stress of parallel (or perpendicular or diagonal) parking. Parking assist uses sensors, cameras, and control of the car to navigate a parking spot. Some will require the driver to still use the brake and accelerator, but newer cars are able to handle the entire process by themselves. 

When To Get Your ADAS Checked

Your advanced driver-assistance systems typically will require calibration if their positions are damaged or moved, even in a slight way. ADAS requires precise calibration to work effectively. So, if you have recently had an accident, whether large or small, your ADAS could have negatively been affected. 

Additionally, other common car services can knock your calibration off. Fixes such as a wheel replacement, windshield replacement, or suspension/alignment repair can become a problem for ADAS. It’s smart to intentionally be on the lookout if any systems aren’t working after an accident or car repair. 

Call The Experts Today

There’s many complicated parts to each advanced driver-assistance system. With several sensors and cameras finely tuned to work based on a matter of inches, proper calibration is vital. ADAS is constantly surveying the car, even when you aren’t. Ensure safety for you, and other drivers and pedestrians, by getting your ADAS recalibrated.

Arizona Auto Glass Pros has experienced and trained technicians to use the proper technology to ensure everything with your ADAS is aligned for your well-being. Visit our website or contact us to learn more about how we can fix your car in a timely manner to get you safely back on the road.