Transportation
AAA: Vehicle Repairs Cost Double for High Tech Safety Features
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Your new car’s high-tech safety features, such as blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning, may be designed to save your life in crashes, but not your money when it comes to repairs. — an announcement from the American Automobile Association and AAA Northeast
Vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) can cost twice as much to repair after a collision because of expensive sensors and calibration requirements, a new AAA Automotive Engineering study reports. In fact, minor roadway incidents damaging the technology behind a vehicle’s windshield, bumpers and side mirrors can add up to $3,000 in extra costs. Many new cars, including base models, now feature high-tech systems that do indeed offer many safety benefits. But minor damage will inevitably affect your pocketbook because components may have to be replaced and re-calibrated, said Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman.