Toronto, Ontario -- The Specialty Equipment Market Association leadership team is backing newly introduced U.S. legislation aimed at clarifying how advanced driver assistance systems should function after vehicles are modified or accessorized.
The proposed ADAS Functionality and Integrity Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on December 15 by Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tennessee), with bipartisan co-sponsorship from Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-California), Rep. Norma Torres (D-California) and Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-New Mexico).
The legislation would direct the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop clear, data-driven guidelines outlining how ADAS systems should be tested, calibrated and validated after common vehicle modifications. Those changes can include suspension lifts, wheel and tire upgrades, aftermarket bumpers, racks and other accessories that may alter vehicle height, geometry or sensor alignment.
In a statement announcing the bill, Harshbarger said the goal is to protect consumers’ ability to personalize their vehicles without undermining safety systems. “I introduced the ADAS Functionality and Integrity Act — bipartisan legislation that protects Americans’ right to safely personalize their vehicles without compromising critical safety systems,” she said.
Harshbarger added that as ADAS technology becomes more widespread, even routine modifications can unintentionally affect sensors tied to features such as automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist.
“Each year, millions of drivers modify their cars,” Harshbarger said, “but as newer vehicles rely more on ADAS technology, routine modifications can unintentionally impact vital sensors.”
Under the proposed legislation, NHTSA would be required to establish standardized testing procedures and performance thresholds so vehicle owners and service providers can better understand when recalibration is required and how to confirm systems are operating correctly. “Our bill ensures clear, data-driven guidelines so consumers know how modifications interact with these systems without limiting innovation or restricting the aftermarket industry,” Harshbarger said.
The bill arrives as ADAS features become standard equipment on new vehicles. In the United States, regulators have finalized rules requiring automatic emergency braking on all new light-duty vehicles by the end of the decade. Canada is following a similar trajectory, with ADAS-equipped vehicles now accounting for the majority of new sales.
SEMA vice-president of OEM and product development Jim Moore described the legislation as a significant step toward balancing safety, consumer choice and aftermarket innovation.
“SEMA thanks Rep. Harshbarger for her leadership and Reps. Vasquez, Obernolte and Torres for their strong support for ensuring vehicles with ADAS can be modified without compromising the integrity of these important safety systems. The introduction of the ADAS Functionality & Integrity Act is a landmark moment for anyone who owns, repairs or modifies a vehicle,” said Moore, adding “the industry lacks clear standards governing ADAS calibration” and that aftermarket businesses and vehicle owners need access to calibration information and procedures “to keep modern safety features functioning.”
SEMA estimates that tens of millions of vehicles are modified each year across North America. While the ADAS Functionality and Integrity Act faces a lengthy legislative process, the association says it represents the first major attempt to address ADAS performance in the context of vehicle modification at a national regulatory level.
