Top 7 Advanced Vehicle Safety Features Shops Need to Know About for Collision Repair

By Chris Bonneau | December 7, 2021

ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) components may be the most challenging of all collision repairs because of the complexity and continuing advancements. The lines between mechanical, collision, and technology repair have all but been erased. Common collision repair procedures now involve systems and components that are more advanced and interconnected than ever, creating an even greater need for up-to-date, on-demand OEM information.

ADAS and other technology-based vehicle systems will continue to evolve, and the only way for body shops to keep up is by using advanced technology in their shop. SUN® Collision Repair Information gives your collision repair facility the latest OEM information, wiring diagrams, and more with our constantly updated software. We can help you perform safe and accurate collision repairs on new vehicle technology and the technology of tomorrow. Here are seven advanced car safety features to give your body shop a head start.

Advanced Vehicle Safety Features You Could See in Your Shop

As vehicle technology continues to evolve so quickly, keeping up with car safety features, materials, and other advancements can be a challenge. The list of vehicle safety features is already a long one, and the list will grow year after year as new technology becomes more widely available and less expensive. Here are seven advanced vehicle safety features you could see in your collision shop already, and you can count on SUN Collision to prepare you for the many innovations on the horizon.

1.   Center Airbags

Airbags have been a part of vehicle safety for years and have evolved to include front, side, curtain, and now, center airbags. A center airbag is designed to provide a buffer between the heads of the two front-seat occupants in side-impact, rollover, and other severe accidents.

The center airbags inflate from the side of the driver’s seat and have been proven to minimize neck and spine twist injuries. Collision repair facilities may have already encountered this safety feature on the Toyota Yaris, Mazda BT-50, and other models.

2.   Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane-trace

It wasn’t that long ago that cruise control was the latest innovation in vehicle technology, but the adaptive cruise control of modern vehicles makes the old, manual technology seem pretty tame. Adaptive cruise control, sometimes called active cruise control, uses radar to determine when a car should adjust its speed.

The flow of traffic, proximity to a vehicle ahead, and other data help the system maintain safe speeds. Active cruise control with the lane-trace assist feature even allows for semi-autonomous driving by keeping a car centered in a lane.

3.   Safe Exit Warning System

While most vehicle-related accidents occur when a vehicle is moving, the availability and affordability of technology can now protect drivers and passengers when vehicles are stopped. The safe exit system uses sensors installed near the tail lights to detect potential collisions.

When another car, cyclist, or other object is identified, the safety feature sounds an alarm, and certain designs lock the passenger doors until the coast is clear. Kia, Audi, and Hyundai are a few of the manufacturers that offer the safe exit warning feature.

4.   Remote Parking

We thought cars that can park themselves with minimal driver assistance were a giant leap, but some advanced vehicles no longer need the driver at all. Tesla, for example, offers a proprietary feature that enables vehicles to autonomously leave a parking space and drive roughly 65 yards or less.

Kia’s Sorrento offers a similar remote parking feature that allows the vehicle to autonomously park after the driver exits. While the feature may be designed for convenience rather than safety, the thinking behind this technology is it will help prevent those inevitable door dings.

5.   Real-time Blind-Spot Video

Blind-spot monitoring isn’t the newest safety feature around, but it’s undergoing some pretty advanced redesign. Up until recently, a blind-spot alert would include an audible warning and a tactile alert like a vibrating steering wheel. However, manufacturers like Honda and Audi are taking the tech up a notch with their innovative technology.

Honda’s blind-spot safety feature feeds a real-time video to an infotainment screen, while Audi offers the option to replace side mirrors with cameras for a continuous live feed. Alternatively, the 2021 Kia Sorento features an on-demand live video feed of blind spots whenever you need to double-check for pedestrians and other vehicles.

6.   Intersection Collision Autonomous Emergency Braking

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) has become a pretty standard car safety feature since the late 2000s. An AEB system uses sensors to identify obstacles in a moving vehicle’s path and measure the relative speed. The system may engage in automatic braking when drivers don’t respond quickly enough, depending on the data. Many vehicle AEB systems are designed only for higher speeds, but low-speed AEB activation is becoming more common.

Like most vehicle safety technology, AEB is constantly being researched and redesigned for even more capabilities. Intersection collision warning systems, sometimes called intersection-scanning AEB, uses radar to scan ahead at intersections to detect approaching vehicles. When a potential collision is identified, the system alerts drivers and will engage the AEB if they don’t respond within a specified time.

7.   360-Degree Sensors and Cameras

Rearview cameras, parking sensors, and forward collision cameras can be pretty advanced, but even these safety features are being improved as we speak. Many of the most common ADAS sensors and cameras are evolving to monitor a greater field of view. Overhead cameras, 360-degree sensors, and 3D-generated graphic displays are already available on select vehicles, offering an almost complete picture of a vehicle’s surroundings.

These advanced vehicle safety features make parking and maneuvering in tight spaces much more manageable by giving drivers the ability to zoom into specific areas to avoid curbs and other obstacles. But these advanced cameras and sensors can do more than help avoid scrubbing a sidewall.

Already taking this new technology to yet another level is Jaguar Land Rover. The manufacturer has added 360-degree cameras to some of their off-road vehicles that give drivers the ability to “see” the road ahead “through” the vehicle’s hood. Now that’s innovation!

The Future of ADAS and Collision Repair

These last two aren’t technically car safety features, but they are destined to become standard sensing technology for many vehicle safety features and ADAS components. While you can’t do anything to slow down the advancements in vehicle technology, you can meet the repair challenges they present. SUN Collision has you covered with everything from diagnostics to recalibration.

Facial Recognition Software

Laptops have it, smartphones have it, and now modern vehicles like the Subaru Forester have begun using facial recognition software too. But facial recognition isn’t used in cars to necessarily identify a face as much as it is to see if a driver is paying attention.

The software scans a driver’s face continuously and is programmed to monitor levels of alertness. If the system catches drivers taking their eyes off the road too often or other concerning behaviors, it will alert them with an audible warning. As face recognition software makes its way onto the list of standard safety equipment, tactile alerts like a vibrating seat will likely be a part of the design.

Lidar

Lidar (light detection and ranging) technology has been around since the ‘60s and is most often associated with lasers—and a high price tag. Lidar has been used for agriculture, archaeology, and most recently, autonomous vehicles. If you’ve seen one of the self-driving cars with the spinning sensor on the roof, you’ve witnessed Lidar in action, and you’ll inevitably be seeing more of it. As Lidar technology becomes more widely available and cost-effective, it will provide more comprehensive monitoring than cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and other technology used today.

Advanced Vehicle Safety Features Require Advanced Collision Repair

Advanced sensors, more intricate wiring, and other vehicle system components require up-to-date, in-depth OEM information for accurate diagnostics and repair procedures. SUN Collision provides current, comprehensive OEM information and real-world insights to give you answers for every type of repair.

You’ll find current collision repair procedures for ADAS and other advanced vehicle safety features, composite body panels, and other innovative vehicle technology. From interactive wiring diagrams and real-world mechanical repair information to OEM service manuals and updates, we provide the features collision facilities need most.

Your body shop needs the most accurate, updated information for collision repair procedures both for traditional collision repairs and advanced vehicle technology. Put the latest repair technology to work in your shop to stay competitive today and tomorrow with our constantly updated software.

Learn why collision repair software could become the most essential and profitable tool in your shop when you get your free demo or call 877-840-1973.