An Australian study sheds light on how some motorists feel about using car safety features, with implications worldwide. The survey in question shows that a cohort from down under is unwilling to trust all of their car’s ADAS offerings.
MyCar’s “Mobility Index 2025” explores current driving norms in modern Australia. One part of the survey exposes how a sizable portion of Aussie motorists are reluctant to rely on some ADAS features.
One-Third of Australian Drivers Say No
While 76% of drivers own some form of vehicle with at least several ADAS features, they are still loath to use them all. For illustration, 30% of survey respondents admit having never even tried their “adaptive cruise control or lane-keeping assist” functions.
This survey follows a Forbes report earlier this year that focused on American drivers’ experiences with their ADAS options. Testimonies from car owners about emergency brake assist, forward-collision prevention, or adaptive cruise control formed the narrative.
The Human Factor
Ironically, these features are there to make people’s driving experience safer and their car more trustworthy. What’s more, actively using a car’s ADAS features might also save money in the long term. Naturally, the reduced human liability factor means the driver is less likely to cause an accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirms this in its “Driver Assisted Technologies” guide. “In 2023, 40,901 people died in motor vehicle crashes — many of these crashes were tied to human error,” reads the online resource.
While it isn’t easy to gauge just how many accidents were avoided by ADAS architecture, such figures are hard to ignore for the inverse scenario. Moreover, the idea that professionally calibrated ADAS architecture might not be desired by some drivers seems contrary to logic.
Playing a High-Risk Game
Motorists who don’t use it may lose out. Jason Stahl of Bodyshop Business, who is a gold pin member of the Collision Industry Conference, sees the pitfalls to this scenario. Stahl believes that if drivers aren’t using their car’s ADAS technology, this could spell trouble for them down the road.
He spoke to car accident lawyer Rebecca Cooper on an episode of his Under the Radar podcast. In the discussion, Cooper gave a graphic example of what some drivers and ADAS calibration experts need to be aware of: litigation.
Lawyers Are Coming for Your Black Box
She cited an unpleasant event that should inspire fear among modern drivers, manufacturers, and technicians who all cut corners on ADAS calibration. The car in question was an OEM-approved vehicle, which needed its forward collision warning system recalibrated “as the result of a minor fender bender.”
However, weeks later, the car caused another collision, causing an accident victim to become paraplegic. During the discovery process, investigators found that the ADAS calibration experts tasked with fixing the car didn’t own a single required tool for calibration.
Needless to say, Cooper’s law firm used this experience to add ADAS calibration discrepancies to their list of evidence-gathering practices. Of course, this event is one of many. Like Cooper, car accident lawyers might now have improper ADAS calibration firmly in their crosshairs.
ADAS and Liability Issues
Therefore, drivers must do some research before hiring specialists, and specialists must also be warned: litigation may come for them, too. Illinois outfit Collins Law deals with personal injury cases. The company published a recent legal guide entitled “Faulty ADAS: Who’s Liable for Your Accident?”
There will be sobering news for any ADAS calibration experts: they too fall under the radar of liable parties, which can include any of the following:
- Manufacturers responsible for defective installation or design;
- Dealerships that might sell a vehicle with known ADAS defects;
- Repair or service facilities where improper ADAS calibration or missed recalls contributed to the crash;
- Vehicle fleet owners who are liable for poor system maintenance leading to an accident.
Put simply, when it comes to one’s integrated ADAS system, there are no half measures allowed. Washington D.C. firm Simeone Miller has a whole guide about ADAS implications in personal injury claims, part of most vehicle accident claims.
Calibration for the Win
Keeping one’s ADAS technology calibrated is key to avoiding potential legal repercussions in the future. Of course, driver responsibility remains central to any claim, and each state will have different variations on ADAS’s role in an accident.
However, one must be aware of the pitfalls poor ADAS calibration might bring. A vehicle’s event data recorder (or black box) now holds potential evidence to sink any driver.
Minnesota ADAS Solutions offers sage advice for any car owner now dealing with this new age of assisted driving. It shares tips in a web resource about what to expect in any ADAS calibration appointment. The key is making sure the business follows OEM-certified practices.
Safe Is Better Than Sorry
“These facilities use manufacturer-approved software, precision tools, and controlled environments to eliminate errors,” reads the post. “General repair shops may use aftermarket calibration equipment, which might not meet the required tolerances for specific vehicle models.”
Clearly, it will do car owners no harm to schedule regular calibration checks, and one must never underestimate the threat of litigation, even if they are safe drivers. As our driving future becomes increasingly autonomous, ADAS calibration will likely take center stage on this journey.