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Making sure that automated driving functions are safe

High-ranking Irish government officials visit DEKRA Technology Center in Germany

Jan 26, 2026 Safety on the road
  • Delegation headed by Minister of State Seán Canney
  • DEKRA experts explain and demonstrate testing methods for ADAS
  • Largest OEM-independent proving ground in Europe

At their visit to the DEKRA Technology Center and DEKRA Lausitzring proving ground, a high-ranking government delegation from Ireland experienced first-hand what advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving functions can do for road safety – and how they are put through their paces to ensure they work as they are supposed to. Headed by Minister of State at Ireland’s Department of Transport, Seán Canney, the guests were welcomed by Erik Pellmann, Head of DEKRA Automobil Test Center. “We are committed to bring our unique expertise to the table to foster road safety across Europe. Sharing knowledge and experience is crucial to achieve the goal of Vision Zero”, Pellmann said.

The visit to DEKRA’s Klettwitz (Bandenburg) site was one stop on the ministerial study visit to Germany, with representatives of the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), the Irish Road Safety Authority (RSA), the National Transport Authority (NTA), and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) among the delegation. DEKRA’s Berlin Representative Office accompanied the visit. The event focused on the safety of modern vehicle technology in terms of automated – and ultimately autonomous – as well as connected driving as well as cybersecurity aspects, nowadays more important than ever. Future requirements for periodical technical inspection in terms of testing automated systems were also discussed.
“Road safety must remain at the heart of how new vehicle technologies are developed. It was very valuable to see the work being done at DEKRA to ensure automated driving systems are thoroughly tested before they reach everyday use”, said Minister of State Seán Canney on the presentations at the DEKRA Technology Center.
“DEKRA has been working for safety for more than 100 years. As technology evolves, so do the challenges to make sure it is safe for everybody in everyday use”, says DEKRA expert Pellmann. “Testing automated driving functions before they are brought to market is one of our main focus areas here – in development as well as in homologation.” The DEKRA Technology Center has been in operation since 2003. In 2017, DEKRA acquired the neighboring Lausitzring racetrack. With its integration, the site is the largest OEM-independent laboratory and proving ground complex for future mobility.
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