A newly introduced federal bill seeks to define the exact amount of leeway these Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) sensors have and set guidelines for recalibration.
Representative Diana Harshbarger (R, Tennessee) introduced the “ADAS Functionality and Integrity Act” on Dec. 12.
If enacted, the bill would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to work with relevant companies and organizations to create guidelines for vehicle models 2028 and later ensuring ADAS and similar systems “maintain functionality” if the vehicle has any aftermarket repairs or modifications. The guidelines would include:
- “Allowable modification ranges and tolerances, including physical parameters impacting ADAS and vehicle dynamic systems functionality, including ride height, wheel and tire dimensions, overall static geometry, physical displacement parameters, and sensor and camera function”;
- A process for automakers to share vehicle tolerance and system sensitivity information “relevant to modification and calibration to [vehicle] owners and [the NHTSA]” within 30 days of a new passenger vehicle’s release;
- The tolerance thresholds for sensor displacement in any direction to preserve proper ADAS functions; and
- “Test protocols and performance validation metrics” that vehicle owners, service providers and repair facilities can use to confirm the system’s “operational integrity” after recalibration.
The bill allows the NHTSA to perform tests with independent laboratories or vehicle testing facilities and require that federal agencies base the guidelines on empirical data gathered from that testing, independent research and public data resources.
If an automaker or equipment manufacturer does not follow these guidelines, it will be subject to a civil penalty for violating federal motor vehicle safety standards.
If the bill is enacted, the NHTSA will have 12 months to submit a report to Congress assessing the safety needs, feasibility, capability and cost of creating these guidelines. It must develop and publish the guidelines within another 12 months.
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) backed the legislation.
“This is the first major step in securing the Right to Modify in the automotive aftermarket industry,” reads a statement on SEMA’s website. “Calibration is essential for safety and reliability when you need it most.”