Starting July 6, 2024, all new cars and trucks sold within the European Union and Northern Ireland will be required to have safety technology that alerts drivers when they are speeding. This technology, known as Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), can beep, vibrate, or even slow down the vehicle to prevent car crashes.
ISA technology utilizes a camera mounted on the front of the vehicle to read speed limit signs. By combining this information with GPS mapping data, the vehicle's software can determine the applicable speed limit for the current location.
If a driver exceeds the speed limit, ISA will provide a warning through beeping or vibrating. If the driver fails to reduce speed, the technology will intervene and automatically slow down the vehicle to comply with the posted speed limit.
While the United Kingdom has decided not to mandate the use of ISA on its roads, the safety feature will still be installed in vehicles, giving drivers the option to activate it daily.
Studies have shown that ISA can significantly reduce collisions and fatalities on the road. The European Transport Safety Council estimates a 30% decrease in collisions and a 20% reduction in deaths with the implementation of ISA. Additionally, the technology can help drivers avoid speeding tickets.
Since 2022, all new cars in Europe have been required to have ISA installed. Manufacturers like Ford have been offering ISA as an option since 2015. Leeds University conducted a study indicating that the UK could experience a 12% decline in injuries resulting from vehicle crashes with ISA in place.
In 2018, the European Union made the decision to mandate ISA technology in vehicles. The EU estimated that around 25,000 people were dying on the roads annually and took action to reduce this alarming number of deaths.
