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Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have become a key feature in modern vehicles, enhancing road safety with technologies like lane departure warnings, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. However, misconceptions about ADAS calibration persist, leading to improper maintenance and potential safety risks.
Here Autotech Training dispels some of the most common myths about ADAS calibration and explains why servicing carried out by skilled technicians is crucial.
Reality: ADAS calibration is vehicle-specific
Each vehicle manufacturer designs ADAS differently, with unique sensor configurations, software algorithms and calibration procedures. Even within the same brand, variations exist due to body shape, sensor placement and vehicle use.
Calibration must follow the manufacturer’s exact specifications, as even minor misalignments can result in incorrect sensor data. For example, a poorly aligned radar sensor could misjudge distances, affecting automatic braking systems.
Reality: ADAS calibration requires specialist tools and expertise
While some ADAS systems run basic self-checks, professional calibration is still required.
Proper calibration involves:
- Setting up targets and laser alignment tools.
- Ensuring optimal environmental conditions.
- Following manufacturer-specific procedures.
A trained technician must verify sensor alignment to ensure safety-critical features function correctly.
Reality: Regular recalibration is essential
Sensor accuracy can degrade due to:
- Road vibrations and environmental factors.
- Temperature fluctuations affect sensor alignment.
- Minor body shifts from normal vehicle use.
Many manufacturers recommend periodic recalibration as part of routine servicing.
Reality: Specialist training and equipment are essential
ADAS calibration is not a standard servicing task. Technicians need:
- Advanced calibration rigs and laser tools.
- Proprietary manufacturer software.
- ADAS-specific training to avoid errors that could compromise vehicle safety.
Without training, misaligned sensors could provide inaccurate data, increasing accident risk.
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) forecasts a significant shortage of ADAS-qualified technicians in the UK, with only 3,000 currently certified, while 106,000 will be needed by 2030 to support the growing number of vehicles with Level 2 autonomy.
Reality: Small errors can have serious safety consequences
ADAS sensors require precise positioning. Even a few millimeters of misalignment can:
- Cause lane-keeping systems to misinterpret lane markings.
- Affect radar-based collision detection accuracy.
- Impair automatic parking systems.
Every sensor must be aligned to manufacturer tolerances to ensure safety.
Reality: Many repairs affect ADAS and require recalibration
Beyond major collisions, recalibration is needed after:
- Windscreen replacements can affect camera alignment.
- Suspension work altering sensor positioning.
- Bumper repairs impact radar sensors.
- Wheel alignments changing vehicle geometry.
Neglecting recalibration after these repairs could leave drivers unknowingly using a compromised ADAS system.
Reality: ADAS is now standard in most vehicle segments
Initially, ADAS technology was limited to high-end luxury cars. However, with evolving safety regulations and advancements in vehicle technology, these features are now widespread across all market segments, including economy and mid-range models. In July 2022, the EU mandated that all new vehicle types incorporate ADAS under the General Safety Regulation (GSR), accelerating its adoption across the board.
Mainstream manufacturers now incorporate ADAS as standard, meaning that technicians across the industry must be prepared to diagnose, calibrate and maintain these systems. As adoption continues to grow, workshops that fail to keep up with ADAS developments risk falling behind.
Reality: Many issues stem from calibration errors
When an ADAS warning light appears, it’s often due to incorrect calibration or software misalignment, rather than a hardware failure.
Examples include:
- Software updates modifying sensor configurations.
- Minor sensor displacements during servicing that go undetected.
Comprehensive diagnostic procedures should always include ADAS calibration checks.
Reality: Physical recalibration is still necessary
Software updates play a crucial role in enhancing ADAS functionality by enabling manufacturers to improve performance, fix bugs, add new features and enhance safety, often through over-the-air (OTA) updates. Yet while Software updates improve ADAS algorithms, they do not realign sensors. Post-update recalibration ensures that sensor data remains accurate and that no misalignments go unnoticed.
Reality: Calibration tools require regular maintenance
Just as ADAS sensors drift, calibration tools themselves must be maintained.
Workshops should:
- Follow manufacturer servicing guidelines for calibration rigs.
- Regularly verify and recalibrate their equipment.
Failing to maintain calibration tools increases the risk of inaccurate vehicle calibrations, compromising safety.
ADAS technology has transformed vehicle safety, but its effectiveness relies on correct calibration carried out by trained technicians. Misconceptions about self-calibrating systems, one-time adjustments, or minor misalignments can lead to serious safety risks.
For technicians and workshops, understanding ADAS calibration is now a fundamental part of modern vehicle servicing. Investing in specialist training and equipment is essential to keeping up with industry advancements and ensuring vehicle safety.
Autotech Training offers a comprehensive ADAS training programme designed to equip technicians with the skills and knowledge needed to work confidently and safely with advanced driver-assistance systems. From the IMI Accreditation in ADAS Calibration (Competence to Operate), which builds foundational understanding and practical recalibration skills, to the IMI Level 2 and Level 3 Awards that cover diagnostics, sensor calibration, and fault rectification, each course combines classroom learning with hands-on experience using industry-standard tools. To keep pace with evolving technology, Autotech Training also provides structured Continuous Professional Development (CPD), ensuring technicians stay current and maintain their IMI TechSafe™ accreditation.
