Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are becoming increasingly common in commercial vehicles. Technologies such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot detection are designed to improve driver awareness and reduce collision risk.
But ADAS also introduces new risk management considerations for commercial fleets.
Drivers remain responsible for operating ADAS-equipped vehicles safely. However, when a collision occurs, questions may extend beyond driver behavior. Investigators may examine whether the technology performed as intended, whether it was properly maintained and calibrated, or whether a defect or malfunction contributed to the incident.
Understanding these issues can help fleet managers manage liability exposures, maintain safer vehicles and develop more effective fleet safety programs.
Understanding ADAS
ADAS uses cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors and other technologies to monitor a vehicle’s surroundings and assist drivers in identifying potential hazards.
Depending on the feature, an ADAS system may:
- Warn the driver of a potential collision or vehicle in a blind spot
- Automatically apply the brakes in certain situations
- Help keep a vehicle within its lane
- Adjust vehicle speed based on surrounding traffic
ADAS should not be confused with fully automated driving systems. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) classifies driving automation into six levels, ranging from Level 0, with no driving automation, to Level 5, with full automation.
Most ADAS features fall within Levels 0 through 2, where the driver remains responsible for monitoring the driving environment and safely operating the vehicle.
In other words, ADAS is a driver-assistance technology—not a substitute for an attentive driver.
How ADAS Can Complicate Liability
Commercial vehicle crash investigations have traditionally focused heavily on driver conduct, including speeding, distraction, fatigue, impairment and inadequate training.
ADAS introduces additional questions.
If a system fails or malfunctions, investigators may need to determine whether its performance contributed to the collision. Depending on the circumstances, liability could potentially extend beyond the driver to other parties involved in the design, manufacture, installation, maintenance or repair of the system.
For example, a claim could allege that:
- An ADAS design defect made the system inherently dangerous.
- A manufacturing defect caused the system to perform differently from its intended design.
- The manufacturer failed to provide adequate instructions, warnings or information about known limitations.
- A repair facility failed to properly calibrate cameras, radar sensors or other ADAS components after a repair.
- Damage or misalignment caused an ADAS system to perform inaccurately.
Vehicle data can also become increasingly important in an investigation. Telematics, ADAS system logs, event data recorder information and dashboard camera footage may provide information about what the vehicle and driver were doing before a crash.
For fleet managers, that means ADAS needs to be considered not only as a safety feature, but also as part of the fleet’s maintenance, documentation and claims strategy.
Insurance Considerations
ADAS does not eliminate the need for traditional commercial auto liability coverage.
Because most ADAS technology is designed to assist rather than replace the driver, collisions can still result in claims alleging driver negligence, including distraction, inattention, misuse of the technology or failure to respond appropriately to system warnings.
However, ADAS can make a claim more complex.
Investigators may need to consider the driver’s actions alongside the performance of the ADAS system, maintenance history, calibration records and available vehicle data.
Fleet operators should work with their insurance professional to evaluate whether their existing commercial auto program adequately addresses the exposures associated with their vehicles and the technology they use.
Risk Management Considerations
Fleet managers can take several practical steps to manage ADAS-related risks.
Know what’s in your fleet.
Inventory the ADAS features installed across your vehicles. Understanding what each system does—and what it does not do—can help prevent drivers and managers from making assumptions about its capabilities.
Train drivers on proper use.
Drivers should understand how ADAS features work, what their alerts mean and when driver intervention is required. Reinforce that these systems are assistance tools, not substitutes for attentive driving.
Establish clear policies for disabling features.
If safety features may ever be turned off, establish clear guidelines for when that is permitted. This can help discourage drivers from disabling systems simply because they find them distracting or inconvenient.
Maintain and calibrate systems.
Follow manufacturer requirements for maintaining and calibrating cameras, radar and other ADAS components. Even minor damage or misalignment can affect system performance.
Address system faults promptly.
Give drivers a clear process for reporting ADAS warnings, malfunctions or other concerns. Assign responsibility for investigating and resolving reported issues.
Keep detailed records.
Document maintenance, repairs, software updates and ADAS calibrations. Good records can help demonstrate that manufacturer requirements were followed and may become important during an accident investigation.
Preserve data after a crash.
Establish procedures for securing relevant vehicle and system information following an accident, including event data recorder information, telematics records, ADAS logs and available camera footage.
Consider safety when purchasing vehicles.
When evaluating new commercial vehicles, consider available safety and performance information alongside the vehicle’s operational requirements and your fleet’s safety goals.
Key Takeaways
ADAS can be an important safety tool for commercial fleets, but adding technology doesn’t eliminate traditional fleet risks—and it can introduce new ones.
Fleet managers should understand what their systems can do, how drivers are expected to use them, how they need to be maintained and what information they can provide after a crash.
A proactive approach to ADAS can help fleets:
- Support safer vehicle operations
- Reduce preventable maintenance issues
- Improve driver training
- Preserve valuable information after an accident
- Better understand liability exposures
- Support more effective claims investigations
ADAS may be getting smarter, but good fleet risk management still starts with people, policies and preparation.
For more transportation risk management guidance, contact Delmarva’s friendly insurance experts at Deeley Insurance Group. Call or text us at 410.213.5600 today.
