An acute shortage of ADAS-qualified technicians within the UK could pose a serious risk to road safety, based on The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).
It estimates that by the top of 2023, no less than one in ten cars on UK roads will feature Level 2 autonomy, growing to almost half of the automotive parc by 2030. Nonetheless, based on latest data which features in ADAS TechSafe Technician Forecasts that may require 18,000 technicians to satisfy current ADAS requirements – currently there are only around 3,500.
Steve Nash, CEO of the IMI, believes all of the noise about EV could well have distracted the sector – and government – from this more urgent and immediate need.
“Adapting a workforce to satisfy the rapidly evolving needs of an increasingly advanced automotive parc isn’t any mean feat and definitely there was loads of concentrate on preparing for EV. Nonetheless, on the IMI we fear this might actually mean the sector has taken its eye off the ball in relation to upskilling for ADAS. This technology is already present in vehicles on UK roads. But with only 3,500 technicians ADAS qualified there’s an actual risk that repairs and recalibration is happening without the correct skills – and that could be a serious risk to road safety.”
The IMI believes this skills gap could create a postcode lottery relating to finding a professional technician. And this will likely force motorists to resort to using garages that shouldn’t have the correct equipment or qualified technicians to repair and recalibrate Advanced Driver Assistance Systems properly, with potentially dangerous consequences.
The IMI said the void in ADAS-qualified technicians also highlights an absence of concentrate on training by aftermarket businesses for this safety-critical technology, despite the considerable earning potential it offers.
“We understand that prime emptiness rates and ongoing economic pressures are making investment in additional training harder for businesses”, continued Steve Nash. “Nonetheless, futureproofing the workforce is crucial for continued profitability in addition to road safety.”
ADAS technology focuses on increasing safety and convenience, without taking full control away from the motive force. Systems comparable to lane assist, adaptive cruise control and self-parking allow the vehicle to regulate steering, acceleration and braking. Problems with the electronics, sensors and software inside these vital systems could lead on to serious safety breaches and even collisions, which could possibly be highly dangerous at speed on a motorway. Proper maintenance and regular servicing are essential to maintain drivers and other road users protected.
It’s warning that if such complex technology isn’t supported appropriately by a technician with the relevant and up up to now training, it could lead on to catastrophic collisions.
“Maintaining modern, high-tech vehicles is a matter of life and death, so a shortage of suitably trained technicians is nothing wanting a crisis, particularly if you consider the federal government’s stated ambitions for autonomous vehicles”, concluded Steve Nash. “It’s imperative, subsequently, that each one relevant stakeholders – including government – acknowledge the profound economic and road safety repercussions of the prevailing skills gap. We want to work collaboratively to see more technicians gain the vital qualifications to guard the industry and road users as we move towards an exciting way forward for autonomous driving.”
The IMI launched Level 2 and Level 3 ADAS qualifications in 2022. The IMI TechSafe recognition programme provides independent assessment and recognition of the technical competence of technicians working within the UK automotive sector. IMI TechSafe identifies a member’s professionalism and protected working practice in the sector of electrical vehicles (EV) and other safety-critical vehicle systems comparable to Autonomous or Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
This Article First Appeared At www.am-online.com
