Insurance damage analysis conducted in Germany shows that a reverse automatic braking system included in standard car equipment can help avoid up to two-thirds of such collisions. However, it is currently difficult to accurately assess the impact of these systems in Lithuania: the average age of the country’s vehicle fleet is almost 17 years, so many vehicles do not have the safety systems that are now common.
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Ten years of BTA data show that the average age of insured cars has hardly changed: in 2015 it was 14.7 years, and in 2025 – 14.9 years. Although the share of 1–5 year old cars increased from 8.7 to 16.6 percent during this period, the share of vehicles 16 years and older also grew – from 45 to 46.8 percent.
“These data show that the vehicle fleet is renewing unevenly. There are more newer vehicles, but a large part of it still consists of older cars that often lack modern safety systems. Because of this, it is much more difficult to see their impact in the overall Lithuanian damage statistics,” says Andrius Žiukelis, head of the BTA Expertise Department.
The average age of Lithuania’s vehicle fleet is almost 17 years
According to “Regitra” data, on January 1, 2026, the average age of M1 category passenger cars registered in Lithuania was 16.8 years. Among the same category of vehicles presented for technical inspection in 2025, this figure was 15.2 years, calculates the Lithuanian Technical Inspection Companies Association.
According to the association’s press representative Renaldas Gabartas, up to 20 different safety and comfort systems may operate in new generation vehicles. They monitor blind spots, help the car stay in the lane, recognize obstacles and road signs, and can stop the car if necessary.
“Now almost all car manufacturers offer driver assistance systems. About a quarter of all new cars are equipped with one or more driver assistance systems, but the rest only have the legally required driver assistance devices. In cases where the vehicle fleet is very old, many cars do not even have the most basic safety systems,” says R. Gabartas.
He says that state measures encouraging people to choose newer cars should be based not only on reducing pollution but also on traffic safety goals. Active and passive safety systems are increasingly part of the standard equipment in newer vehicles, so renewing the vehicle fleet would help a larger number of drivers benefit from them.
Before the maneuver – not just a glance at the screen
However, according to the head of the BTA Insurance Expertise Department, even if the car is equipped with a rearview camera, parking sensors, or an automatic braking system, the driver must assess the environment before starting the maneuver. It is necessary to check whether there are pedestrians, cyclists, animals, low barriers, or other obstacles nearby that electronic systems may not react to in time.
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“Before starting to move, it is important to assess the space around the car and not rely solely on the camera – use mirrors, look through the windows. You need to watch not only the rear of the car but also the sides and front corners, because when turning, the front part shifts to the side. The rear wheels of longer vehicles move closer to the inner edge in a turn, and the front sticks out more to the outside. Smaller vehicles, although more maneuverable, more easily enter blind spots,” says A. Žiukelis.
He reminds that it is important to regularly take care of the condition of the systems themselves. Dirt, dust, or rain can worsen the camera image and sensor operation, and in winter they can be covered by snow or ice.
“Electronic assistants provide additional information but do not make decisions for the driver. The most dangerous is when a person starts to think that the car will notice everything and stop itself if necessary. Even with modern systems, the responsibility to monitor the environment and maneuver safely remains with the driver,” emphasizes A. Žiukelis.
A significant portion of vehicle damage occurs while maneuvering in parking lots
Although maneuvering in parking lots seems routine to many drivers, a significant portion of vehicle damage is recorded there.
“About half of all registered vehicle damages are related to maneuvering in various parking lots. The speed is usually low there, but a collision can occur due to momentarily diverted attention, inaccurately assessed vehicle dimensions, or not maintaining distance,” says A. Žiukelis.
According to him, when returning to the car, it is first worth walking around it and assessing whether the environment has changed – a shopping cart, bicycle, or other obstacle difficult to notice from the driver’s seat may have been left nearby. Very careful attention should be paid when leaving a parking space where visibility is limited by cars parked nearby. In such cases, it is recommended to move very slowly and stop as soon as another road user is noticed or a sensor warning is heard.
“Even a small incident can lead to unplanned repair costs. Insurance will not prevent the event itself, but properly chosen insurance coverage will ease the financial burden,” says the head of the BTA Expertise Department.
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