Back

ADAS WILL TRANSFORM ROAD SAFETY …AND THE AUTO GLAZING BUSINESS

Thumbnail

Although motorists have taken big steps in recent years to improve road safety, such as using seat belts and not drinking when we drive, the next great leap forward in safer driving is coming from ADAS – Advanced Driver Assistance Systems based on sensors, cameras, radar and light detection & ranging technology linked to the on-board computer (see AGC February News: “Meet ADAS…”).

Progress in Europe has been lightning fast. Every new model in the showroom seems to bring new ADAS safety technologies. And not just in the premium car segment; popular models and low-priced vehicles also come packed with driver aid, warn and assist ADAS features. In the USA, Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems will be standard equipment on most cars by 2022; and Europe is expected to follow the same trend.

Customers it seems are getting the message. The official EuroNCAP industry ratings now take account of ADAS features in their new-car safety rankings, and car manufacturers run tactical advertising campaigns pushing ADAS features.

ADAS is clearly on the path to autonomous driving. Existing functions for environment recognition (traffic, pedestrians, road signs, …) coupled with car manoeuvring will become more and more accurate. And new functions will soon be added, such as road surface recognition, enabling car driving systems to adapt to any kind of road infrastructure or weather conditions.

New way of working

How does this ADAS revolution affect auto glazing? In a big way, is the answer! As the use of smart cameras behind the windscreen grows, auto glazing manufacturers are having to continually adjust and develop windshields with optical qualities compatible with these new cameras and their operating ranges. At the same time the camera makers need to make efforts to match their technologies with the glass.

For glass replacement operators, the changes could be just as great. Although ADAS improves safety and may lead to less frequent glass breakage due to road accidents, the replacement operation will become more sophisticated. Replacing an ADAS windscreen takes more time than a standard windscreen and demands specific skills, such as re-calibrating cameras after the windshield has been fitted. As with all new technologies that change the way we live, new training will be required.