Vehicle technology increasing need for driver education
Auto Windscreens has argued that increasing vehicle technology is placing greater emphasis on driver education.
It has said that many motorists are unaware of ADAS features and do not realise calibration is critical to safe repair.
Ryan Thomson, head of Auto Calibrate, Auto Windscreens, said: “Our cars have more tech features than ever before. With the government’s plan to mandate 18 safety technologies in new cars in the UK, this is only going to grow.
“We recently undertook a survey of 1,000 drivers to explore knowledge and use of ADAS and the results were alarming; 12.4% of people didn’t know if they had ADAS features in their car and for those who said they did have ADAS features, 17.6% admitted they were either ‘not very confident’ or ‘not confident at all’ that they understand how their car’s safety systems work.
“If we take our survey as an average, alongside nearly 10 million of UK cars which now feature ADAS Level 2, that’s around 1.2 million people who don’t know how their car’s safety systems work. It’s a sobering thought.
“That’s where we come in. We’re on a mission to help educate and inform drivers about these safety systems and how to look after them. These sensitive systems need calibrating following certain vehicle repairs, some body work and after windscreen replacements. This needs to be undertaken by a qualified technician in controlled conditions, as misalignment can result in the features not functioning correctly.
“Where cars are becoming more technical, it’s imperative those of us in the automotive industry help provide the information, support and customer service drivers deserve. This is a perfect example of where technology meets the human approach. Education and understanding will allow us to stay in control in a rapidly evolving world.”
