ADAS-ADS | Shop QA | Lemon & Magnuson-Moss | Shop-Repair Failures
Meet the Driven Evidence Leadership Team
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamoakesase-eet
About Pam Oakes – Automotive Industry Expert Witness
Pamela (Pam) Oakes, CMASE/EET, is an automotive expert witness and the founder of DrivenEvidence in Tampa Bay, Florida. Her practice covers:
* Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and Automated Driving Systems (ADAS/ADS)
* Improper in-shop ADAS calibration and recalibration
* Mechanical, electrical, and vehicle network communication failures
* Standard of care in automotive and heavy-duty truck repair and fleet maintenance
* Technician training, education, and qualifications
* Lemon law and Magnuson-Moss warranty disputes
With more than 35 years of hands-on and managerial automotive experience, she analyzes complex vehicle systems, shop repair procedures, and technician competency. She is an ASE Master Automotive Technician (A1–A8), certified since 1994, and holds ASE Advanced Level L4 (ADAS), Medium/HD Truck (T7, T8), Collision (B5), C1, G1, P2, xEV1, and xEV2 certifications, along with EPA Section 608 Universal, Section 609, and EU-F Gas (European equivalent of the EPA 609), ICAR-ADAS. Also EVT-M1 (Emergency Vehicles) certification.
ASE selected her as one of twelve Subject Matter Experts to develop the original L4 (ADAS) certification exam, and again for the updated A7 (HVAC) and A1 (Engine Repair) exams.
Pam is a voting member in several subcommittees of SAE International's Active Safety ADAS Sensor Calibration Task Force.
Other experience:
* ASE-certified automotive technician for more than 30 years
* Twenty years as start-up owner and operator of a 12-bay ASE Blue Seal repair facility w/multiple
national awards along with 17 regional and other local performance awards
* ADAS technician training and certification program development for both national and
international Tier 1/Tier 2 companies
* More than a decade as an automotive and heavy-duty truck instructor in the U.S. and Canada
* Speaker and trainer at STX, VISION, the ASE national conference, the NACAT conference, the MACS conference, and other, national events
Recent publications:
The Silent Witness: How ADAS-Driven Data Exposes the Truth (2026)
AI/ML in Litigation Support: Expert Witness Discovery (2026)
Auto Repair Shop KPI Made Simple (2025)
Find Me Auto Help (2020)
Find Me Auto Help: Crash Course (2023)
Car Care for the Clueless book series (1996-2015)
* Hands-on ADAS calibration and recalibration experience, in the shop and in research and development
* Extensive wheel alignment experience
* U.S. design patent holder (USD849631S1); 3-pending as of now
Core Areas of Expertise:
* ADAS system failures and calibration/recalibration disputes
* Mechanical, electrical, and vehicle network system analysis
* Collision and mechanical repair quality and accident causation
* Shop standard of care and technician competency
* Fleet maintenance and regulatory compliance
* Dealer operations and used-vehicle condition disputes
Pam is available to plaintiff and defense counsel nationwide to consult, analyze, and testify on matters involving automotive and heavy-duty truck systems, repair standards, technician qualifications, and ADAS investigations.
CV resume upon request at: PamOakes@DrivenEvidence.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/petersudak/
Peter Sudak – Automotive Industry Expert
Peter Sudak is a seasoned automotive professional with more than 35 years of hands-on experience in vehicle service operations, fleet maintenance management, and technical diagnostics. Based in the Tampa Bay area, Peter holds multiple ASE Master Technician certifications and has spent decades overseeing high-volume shop operations, dealership service departments, and large-scale fleet maintenance programs.
Throughout his career, Peter has managed teams in multi-bay facilities, optimized service processes for profitability and customer satisfaction, and ensured strict compliance with manufacturer and warranty standards. His expertise covers a wide spectrum of automotive systems, including tires and alignment, advanced diagnostics, and warranty claim administration.
- Peter’s deep industry knowledge is complemented by his long history of public engagement. He has served as a volunteer instructor for Goodwill Industries’ ASE prep programs, advised small business development centers on automotive operations, and contributed regularly to media outlets — including hosting segments on “Car Care for the Clueless” and writing the “Tire Talk” column for Tire Business Magazine.
As an expert witness, Peter brings clear, practical insights into automotive service standards, repair cost disputes, maintenance protocols, and shop management practices. He specializes in translating complex technical issues into straightforward explanations for courts, attorneys, and clients.
CV resume upon request at: DrivenEvidence@gmail.com
Qualified Experts
Our nationwide team's home base is located in Tampa Bay FL, consisting of ASE-certified master technicians and forensic engineering specialists with more than 175 years combined experience.
Our company's team members have their own forte from automotive business practices to antique vehicle safety to alternative-electrified transportation.
All experts are covered with professional & general liability, cyber insurance 1M/2M.
For further information, visit our profile on:
https://www.jurispro.com/search?search=pam+oakes&_token=qNToFpZYn2nU2RZ010gzf2vSFHZKCesHKVhwdoDt
automotive nationally recognized Subject Matter experts
ISO 26262
FMVSS Title 49 CFR
FMVSS Title 49 CFR
ISO 26262: A long-standing functional safety standard for automotive electrical and electronic systems.
Post-Assembly: It is the responsibility of the shop and technician to follow the manufacturer’s specified processes and environmental requirements.
Did they comply? We already know the answer.
FMVSS Title 49 CFR
FMVSS Title 49 CFR
FMVSS Title 49 CFR
Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations governs transportation in the United States.
It contains rules from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and other agencies under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
Are shops complying with the rules when it comes to repairs? We already know the answer
UL 4600
FMVSS Title 49 CFR
Nationally Recognized SME: ASE-ADAS (L4)
Technician calibration included in future comprehensive standards, evidence chain that focuses on Level 4 & 5 autonomy.
Post-Assembly: It is the shop’s and technician’s responsibility to document all work thoroughly—to protect their interests and contribute to the data set used for safety validation.
Did they dot the i’s and cross the t’s? We know what proper documentation looks like—and whether it’s in order.
Nationally Recognized SME: ASE-ADAS (L4)
Nationally Recognized SME: ASE-ADAS (L4)
Nationally Recognized SME: ASE-ADAS (L4)
Contributed to the inaugural ASE-L4 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) certification exam. Serving as an ADAS expert in the aftermarket and Tier 1 sectors since 2019. Recognized by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)—the sole certification body for the automotive aftermarket—as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in ADAS.
Nationally Recognized SME: ASE A7 & A1
Nationally Recognized SME: ASE-ADAS (L4)
Nationally Recognized SME: ASE A7 & A1
Recognized by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)—the automotive aftermarket’s sole certification authority—as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), HVAC/Climate Control, and Internal Combustion Engines.
Nationally Recognized HD Truck (ASE)
Nationally Recognized SME: ASE-ADAS (L4)
Nationally Recognized SME: ASE A7 & A1
From routine manufacturer-recommended maintenance to the international launch of new diesel engine platforms, we provide expert insight into what technicians and repair shops should—and should not—do to keep Class 3 through Class 8 vehicles safely and reliably on the road.