New research from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has highlighted just how heavily today’s vehicles are coming to rely on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), with nearly half of UK van drivers avoiding at least one accident in 2025 thanks to the technology.
According to the survey, 45% of UK van drivers reported that safety assist technology helped them avoid one or more accidents last year.
Even more remarkably, nearly one in five (19%) said the technology saved them from multiple collisions over the 12-month period.
With van drivers spending an average of 5.5 hours behind the wheel every working day, fatigue and blind spots are constant hazards.
Why it Matters
This data shows that drivers increasingly rely on autonomous braking and lane-assist systems to prevent everyday collisions. When these systems fail to perform perfectly, the consequences can be severe.
Routine work that affects a vehicle’s geometry now directly impacts life-saving sensors. Failing to recalibrate these systems can leave your garage legally liable if they fail during a crash.
Bringing ADAS calibration in-house is rapidly shifting from an optional, outsourced inconvenience into a highly profitable daily revenue stream.
When identifying the most effective technologies for preventing near-misses, respondents overwhelmingly credited parking sensors (58%), followed by collision warnings (40%) and park assist (32%).
Active intervention systems also played a crucial role, with drivers highlighting speed assistance (27%), lane assist (23%), and autonomous emergency braking (22%), alongside driver drowsiness monitoring (15%).
While this technology is successfully reducing panel damage and severe collisions, it presents a clear mandate for independent workshops. When a bumper is removed for a timing belt change, or the steering geometry is adjusted, these life-saving radars and cameras must be correctly recalibrated.
If drivers are relying on autonomous emergency braking and collision warnings to prevent accidents on a daily basis, the liability on workshops to ensure these systems are functioning perfectly post-repair is immense.
OEM push
Manufacturers are continuing to pack vehicles with advanced sensor suites.
VW Commercial Vehicles pointed to its new Transporter, which recently secured a five-star Euro NCAP rating, as a prime example.
The model features rear parking sensors, lane assist, a driver alert system, and intelligent cruise control as standard, alongside radar-camera fusion technology.
Simon Jeffreys, Product Marketing Manager at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “This data demonstrates that safety technology is significantly benefitting drivers in real-world scenarios, while supporting them to feel safer on the road. Our vehicles are equipped with a range of the latest safety assist technologies… enabling drivers to get back to focusing on what really matters to their business.”
