What is an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)?

There are a number of different programs available in the motor industry, they go by various names (e.g. "Collision Prevention Assist Plus") but they have one common goal: To improve the driver's safety.

ADAS have a key role to play in reducing the number of vehicle collisions on the road. In the past 5 years, there has been a 10% fall in the number of road accidents, as the technology has improved to keep drivers safer.

What are the main benefits of ADAS to me / my business?

• Helps to drive down costs (fewer accidents = less money spent)
  
• Improves road safety for everyone

How do they drive down costs?

• Fewer and less severe accidents should reduce the amount of damage to vehicles / cost of repairs.
• Less severe accidents reduce the amount of time a vehicle spends off road (which in turn means less money spent on replacement/temporary vehicles.)
• Improved road safety reduces the risk of injury to staff.
• Some insurers offer reduced costs/discounts for vehicles fitted with ADAS.
• Fewer claims can help to improve your insurance premium.

So why aren't ADAS standard on every vehicle?

The European Parliament has backed the idea that all vehicles sold in Europe should be fitted with certain life-saving technologies as standard. In total the EU has announced 19 vehicle safety measures that it would like to see on all new cars. However no announcement has yet been given on legislation which is needed to support this. If announced this year, it is likely that the changes would not come into force for the EU until 2020 at the earliest. 

Of the 10 best-selling cars in the UK, only 3 had certain ADAS measures fitted as standard. We hope this will rise in the future.

What should I look out for?

Look for the acronyms! And any other technology that indicates an improvement in safety. For example:

• Autonomous Emergency Brake (AEB) 

Adapts the rate of braking based upon the perceived risk of collision, to help avoid impact damage.

(Known as Collision Prevention Assist in Mercedes Benz models)

• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)

Works in conjunction with ABS to automatically vary the amount of force applied via the brakes to the wheels, depending upon the conditions.

• Adaptive Cruise Control  (ACC)

Speeds up or slows down your vehicle automatically to keep a safe pace with the vehicle infront when Cruise Control is engaged.

• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Monitors lane markings and tracks a vehicle's direction in relation to these. If the system determines a vehicle is likely to inadvertently stray out of lane it will alert the driver. In some vehicles, the system goes one step further to correct the steer of the vehicle and keep it in lane.

• Intelligent Speed Assistance

Alerts the driver when they exceed the speed limit.

• Parking assistance technologies

These include, reversing cameras, reversing sensors and parking pilot (parks the car for you). 

Many of the vehicles on our fleet feature these technologies. They are particularly prevalent in Mercedes Benz (who fit many ADAS as standard). For example the E220 Saloon or the Sprinter Van.

Ask your Rental Sales Advisor for more details about the ADAS in your next hire vehicle!