New ADAS Legislation Introduced

A new piece of legislation would help ensure that tire dealerships have the information they need to calibrate advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

The ADAS Functionality & Integrity Act (H.B. 6688) was introduced by Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) and is co-sponsored by Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.), and Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.).

"This legislation is critical to being able to safely make common modifications, including installing bike racks wrapping a vehicle, installing larger wheels and tires, or installing a winch or aftermarket bumpers, without compromising the functionality of ADAS," according to officials from the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).

"The ADAS Functionality & Integrity Act would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to establish ADAS guidelines to create modification ranges and tolerances for new vehicles starting in model year 2028. The bill also requires NHTSA to create guidelines that establish ADAS test procedures that aftermarket businesses can properly test and validate that the vehicle systems have been properly calibrated."

Jim Moore, SEMA vice president of OEM and product development, notes that "Americans deserve confidence that those critical systems will work as intended for the entire life of their vehicle, even after repairs or customization. Currently, the industry lacks clear standards governing ADAS calibration and aftermarket businesses and vehicle owners need access to the necessary calibration information and procedures needed to keep modern safety features functioning. This bill marks a critical step forward in the name of vehicle safety and is a major step forward in protecting the American people’s right to modify the vehicles they own.”

SEMA estimates more than 50 million light duty vehicles in the United States each year are modified or accessorized, "a number that both underscores the urgent need for ADAS standards that account for real-world vehicle modifications and the significant number of consumers who modify their vehicles."

Starting with model year 2029, "all new passenger cars and light trucks must be equipped with certain ADAS technology, specifically automatic emergency braking under NHTSA’s FMVSS 127 rulemaking. The ADAS Functionality & Integrity Act is critical to ensure that these advanced safety systems continue to work properly even after vehicles are repaired or modified and pathways to compliance are clear as ADAS becomes standard on every vehicle."