MOT regulations will need to include ADAS
New MOT regulations are being introduced on 1 April to include visual safety checks for electric and hybrid vehicles.
However, A1 ADAS Group believes MOTs should also be updated to include ADAS technology.
Managing director Iain Molloy said: “As the car parc becomes increasingly reliant on ADAS technologies, the question naturally arises about whether roadworthiness tests should also consider them. There’s no doubt these systems are becoming a fundamental part of vehicle safety. Ignoring them entirely in roadworthiness testing will become harder to justify.”
However, he believes adding ADAS to MOT regulations will require a fundamental shift in the way tests are carried out.
ADAS calibrations
Molloy said: “ADAS doesn’t behave like traditional MOT items. You can visually inspect brakes, tyres or suspension components and get a good sense of their condition. With ADAS, that simply isn’t the case.
“A visual walkaround tells you nothing. And while a warning light may appear when a system is seriously compromised, subtle misalignment can leave a vehicle looking perfectly healthy on the dashboard while performing well below the manufacturer’s intended safety parameters.
“The problem is many MOT stations simply don’t have the space to carry out ADAS calibration. Even many full-service workshops struggle to meet the physical requirements, so expecting every MOT station to do it during a standard test simply isn’t realistic.”
Skills
Skills and training present further challenges, and Molloy believes one solution could be MOTs simply verifying that ADAS calibrations have been completed by an expert rather than carrying them out themselves.
He concluded: “Now is the time for workshops to look at where ADAS sits within their business. That may mean forging strong working partnerships with ADAS specialists offering mobile calibration services or investigating what ADAS capabilities they can realistically bring in-house.
“One thing is clear. Doing nothing isn’t a long-term option. ADAS will have to become part of the roadworthiness conversation. The challenge is making sure the solution is practical for the industry while genuinely improving safety on the road.”
