IDEAS Collide: What would you do if vehicles stopped crashing?
What if advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) prevent collisions entirely, eliminating vehicle crashes? How would you bring business into your shop?
That was the food for thought from Justin Allen, Hunter Engineering regional trainer, one of seven speakers in this year’s Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) IDEAS Collide Showcase. The showcase was held Nov. 4 during this year’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Allen encourages collision repair shops to be proactive and use their imagination so they’re prepared if business slows drastically.
“We’re in a major time of disruption,” Allen said. “I don’t think anybody would argue with that idea. ADAS stuff is changing the game. It’s changing the trade, changing the things we have to be prepared for.
“Currently, we’re dependent upon vehicles colliding with things, trees, houses, cars… When did that start happening? 135 years ago. So the collision business has been active for a long, long time. 1891 was the first time that occurred. And when did they start crashing even more? …the advent of that doggone cell phone. It’s not just for selfies; it’s for distractions while driving.”
Allen shared that by the early 2000s, more than 50% of households had cell phones, noting that now, everybody’s got one in their pocket.
Comparatively, only about a third of vehicles on the road use ADAS technology, he said.
“What does it mean for us that ADAS technology is getting better? We know fewer vehicles are actually being in collisions,” Allen said. “There’s more technology required… That’s creating more costs and repairs, and yet there’s more total vehicles. There’s an evolution occurring; change is taking place. We just get to decide what on Earth are we going to do about it?”
Allen suggests shops think of work to bring in-house rather than subletting.
“I want to encourage you to choose excitement,” he said. “You’ve got an opportunity to not be worried about what’s going to change in a negative direction. How can we capitalize on some good things going on here? Certainly, the automotive industry as a whole is struggling to get people to do the good work, so there’s no shortage of opportunity to bring some of that good work in-house. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I know that we can do it.
“It’s an interesting time. Make the most of it. Let’s strategize. Let’s be proactive. …Let’s not get caught unprepared.”
Images
Featured image: Justin Allen of Hunter Engineering speaks during the 2026 SCRS IDEAS Collide Showcase on Nov. 4. (Lurah Lowery/Repairer Driven News)