The EU is one step closer to preventing cars from exceeding speed limits, as it will be mandatory for all types of new vehicles introduced on the European market to use ISA (intelligent speed assistance) technology. Read more here!
The EU approved a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council that requires all new vehicle models and types introduced on the European market to be equipped with the intelligent system ISA (intelligent speed assistance). What is this? A technology that informs, warns and discourages the driver to reduce speed when they exceed the established limit.
However, not all cars are required to have this technology yet. This system will only be mandatory for all new cars sold in the European Union from July 2024.
“ISA it works with the driver as an assist function, through throttle control or other dedicated, appropriate and effective feedback, while the driver is always in full control of the vehicle’s driving speed. It is an effective safety measure because even a slightly reduced driving speed has a significant beneficial effect in preventing accidents or mitigating the outcome of the accident.”, explains the memo.
The vehicle’s speed limit is set automatically based on posted speed limits on the streets. For this, ISA It uses the car’s cameras and the map and GPS data, since in this way it continuously updates the speed limit of the vehicle with that of the route.
In case you are exceeding the speed limit, ISA can warn in different ways using three types of technology: the informative, warning or intervention. On the one hand, the informative or advisory gives the driver feedback through a visual or audio signal, informing him of current speed limits and speeding.
Regarding the system of support or warning increases upward pressure on the accelerator pedal, although it is possible to override the support system by pressing harder on the accelerator. And finally we have the intervention or mandatory that prevents any overspeeding, for example by reducing fuel injection or requiring a “kick down” by the driver if you want to exceed the limit.
According to the European Commission, speeding “contributes to about 30 percent of fatal accidents“, and the ISA is designed to reduce that percentage. A test project called PROSPER calculated accident reductions in six countries and predicted that the implementation of ISA it can reduce deaths by 19-28%, depending on the country. That’s for a “market driven scenario“, meaning that automakers would implement the technology on their own. In the case of a regulated scenario, deaths could be reduced between 26-50%.
In addition to reducing the number of hospital admissions and deaths, ISA it has other benefits: such as fuel savings, CO2 savings and the potential to reduce travel time.