June 2021

unfortunately already led to many tragic deaths. “A widespread and effective ongoing communications campaign led by the automotive industry and supported by insurers and safety organisations is essential if we are going to address current and future misconceptions and misuse.” Thatcham Research and the ABI have offered four criteria that need to be met before ALKS can be classified as automated: The vehicle must have the capability, and be allowed through legislation, to safely change lanes to avoid an incident The vehicle must have the capability to find a safe harbour at the side of the road and not stop in a live lane The systems on the vehicle must be able to recognise UK road signs and this needs to be assured by an independent organisation Data must be made available remotely through a neutral server for any incident to verify who was in charge at the time of the incident – the driver or the vehicle. Matthew concluded: “We have engaged closely with the UK government around their Call for Evidence on ALKS, and look forward to ensuring that future technologies such as ALKS” can be adopted safely to reduce road casualties.” Distinction Mark Shepherd, Assistant Director, Head of General Insurance Policy, Association of British Insurers, said: “While the insurance industry fully supports the development towards more automated vehicles, drivers must not be given unrealistic expectations about a system’s capability. It is vital that ALKS, which rely on the driver to take back control, are not classed as automated, but as assisted systems. By keeping this distinction clear we can help ensure that the rules around ALKS are appropriate and put driver and passenger safety first. “Thatcham Research has identified some concerning scenarios where ALKS may not operate safely without the driver intervening. These need to be addressed in the consultation.” Serious deficit After the initial announcement, the automotive sector continued to react. IMI CEO Steve Nash welcomed the move, but remained concerned about the need for accompanying infrastructure, citing the ADAS shortfall as a particular concern: “The UK is in a race for zero emissions and a race for mobility solutions that don’t need a driver, but I fear the government’s current impetus is not necessarily underpinned by solid infrastructure to ensure the next generation of vehicles can be maintained and repaired safely by a widely accessible network of technicians. “The IMI has already cited the serious deficit in technicians qualified to work on electric vehicles; currently we’re at just 5%. A skilled workforce for vehicles featuring ADAS is better populated, but it’s still an area of concern as a whole. The reality is this currently presents a much bigger risk for road users than electric vehicles. “Connected and autonomous technologies are crucial to advancing the safety and performance of vehicles for all road users, but it will only work if it is accurately calibrated at all times and while ADAS technology is certified at manufacture, we firmly believe there is room for improvement to ensure that automotive technicians repairing vehicles fully understand ADAS technology so that all systems are precisely and accurately calibrated before a vehicle goes back on the road. “The IMI has been championing the setting of standards to ensure that technicians are appropriately qualified to work on vehicles involving ADAS as well as electrified vehicles through the IMI TechSafe banner. We have already launched IMI ADAS Accreditation, designed and developed in collaboration with industry organisations, to help ensure technicians have the expertise to work with ADAS features in vehicles, protecting the safety of drivers when this technology is activated. But market penetration is not yet comprehensive and that is where I fear the government’s plans could come unstuck.” Steve added: “We urgently urge government and its advisors to engage with the IMI to ensure that the repair and maintenance infrastructure is ready for autonomous motoring. As the industry’s professional body, working with broad based sector advisory groups, we are best placed to ensure that appropriate standards are developed, adopted and, ideally, supported by appropriate regulation.” Legal framework For Neil Atherton, Sales and Marketing Director at Autoglass, clarifying the legal framework around these systems is absolutely crucial: 10 AFTERMARKET JUNE 2021 BIG ISSUE www.aftermarketonline.net I fear the government’s current impetus is not necessarily underpinned by solid infrastructure ”