Technical 18 www.aftermarketonline.net FEBRUARY 2025 How the MOT could be key to future of ADAS As workshops debate the possibility of ADAS calibrations forming part of the MOT testing regime, Repairify Innovations director Martin Brown considers if the development is inevitable The age-old question of when will advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) calibrations be included in MOT tests continues to resurface in workshops across the UK. And the short answer is… not anytime soon! However, change is on the horizon following calls from the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety for mandatory checks on these advanced vehicle features, which make it seem inevitable that ADAS checks will eventually become part of the MOT process. The fact that it is not happening anytime soon means there needs to be a discussion about it because of its positives and negatives. The positive is that adding tests to the MOT requirements will help enhance safety. But, in so doing this creates a negative in the form of increasing the cost of the MOT, which was capped at £54.85 as of June 2024. This will then lead us down the path of asking who would be liable to bear the increase. Would it be the driver, who might resist paying an additional cost for an already expensive yearly service, or the service centre that is doing the work? This question is something that is hard to answer and will take time to resolve. If and when ADAS calibrations and diagnostics are added to the MOT, service centres will have to equip their staff with the knowledge and skills as well as the tools to perform the work correctly. This will involve an initial capital outlay in training and technology. However, what must be remembered is that by doing so, it also opens up new avenues of sales for the business and the revenue generated will be an asset to the centre in the short, medium and long term. In addition to the pluses and minuses relating to this topic, as an industry, we must continue to look to the future as the technology within vehicles is going to continue to evolve. This means that regulatory frameworks such as the MOT must keep up with developments by adapting to meet the technological advancements head on. The integration of ADAS checks is not just a technical necessity but a critical step towards ensuring that the benefits of these systems are fully realised by the driver. It also means that MOTs can play a role in reducing accidents and building public trust in autonomous and semi-autonomous technologies. In addition, as with the introduction of anything new, it is important that drivers are aware of the changes, and the way this will be achieved is via campaigns from the government on TV, social media and the internet that highlight why ADAS checks have been added to MOTs and the importance of regular checks and repairs on these systems. In an era of smarter, more advanced vehicles, the MOT test must evolve to remain relevant and effective. Incorporating ADAS calibrations will ensure that vehicles on the road are not only roadworthy, but also equipped to deliver the safety features they were designed for. It’s time to move beyond brakes and tyres and embrace a holistic approach to vehicle safety that reflects the technology of today and tomorrow.
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