Skip to main content

Drivers sceptical of EU vehicle control safety benefits, claims IAM research

Three quarters of UK drivers are concerned that the use of Intelligent Speed Adaptations (ISAs) will compromise safety, according to research by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). Last month, the EU announced that they were considering rules for new cars to be installed with Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) technology. The technology would be capable of detecting limits through cameras or satellites and automatically applying the brakes. Existing vehicles could be forced to be retrofitted with
October 28, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Three quarters of UK drivers are concerned that the use of Intelligent Speed Adaptations (ISAs) will compromise safety, according to research by the 5125 Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

Last month, the 3287 EU announced that they were considering rules for new cars to be installed with Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) technology. The technology would be capable of detecting limits through cameras or satellites and automatically applying the brakes. Existing vehicles could be forced to be retrofitted with the devices.

The IAM claim that 78% of drivers don’t want to see the retro fitting of ISA technology onto older vehicles.

The UK’s leading road safety charity’s research also found that 57% of drivers felt that ISAs won’t have a positive impact on road safety – avoiding crashes, deaths and injuries.

However, there is overwhelming support for ISAs when vehicle control remains with the driver. Sixty-seven per cent of respondents would prefer ISAs to operate with warning messages with no control of the vehicle.

Respondents do feel that there are some benefits to ISAs. Fifty-two per cent see a reduced likelihood of speeding convictions and less money spent on traffic calming measures such as road humps.

Thirty-one per cent of respondents feel that, if enforced, ISAs should be restricted to younger drivers, newly qualified drivers and drivers with previous road-related convictions.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said, “ISAs could help to save lives but it’s clear that drivers remain dubious about the benefits of the technology.  More research into the benefits would help to reassure the public that this will improve road safety.

”Unfortunately, over a third of respondents see this as a way of controlling drivers, I believe if drivers are trained properly and have access to on-going learning, the government would not need to enforce ISAs.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • US plan to target drunk driving
    January 9, 2014
    A new agreement in the US will help tackle the issue of drink driving using sophisticated in-car technologies. The US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is extending its cooperative agreement with the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS), which comprises 15 automakers. This agreement will see research continuing into advanced alcohol detection technology that could prevent vehicles from being driven by a drunk driver. “Drunk driving remains a deadly crime
  • The use of telematics in construction machines is growing
    May 20, 2015
    Demand for telematics technology is growing, as equipment users begin to lean the value of these systems – Alan Dron reports With construction projects increasingly operating to wafer-thin profit margins, any technological assistance that can keep the accounts in the black is welcome. This is particularly the case with those projects where contractors can share a larger slice of the profits if they complete their work ahead of schedule. The downside, of course, is that they also share the pain if the
  • ERF urges greater maintenance of Europe’s road signs to save lives
    March 21, 2016
    ERF has launched a position paper to advocate better maintenance of Europe’s traffic signs. Vertical signage is an essential element not only of a modern and well-maintained road infrastructure, but also of a safe and functional road network. Road signs help regulate traffic, provide crucial visual guidance and give drivers important preview especially during night-time conditions. Well maintained and efficient signage becomes even more necessary when taking into account the ageing population of Europe, in
  • EU road safety plan to cut casualties
    May 23, 2018
    The European Commission has announced a major package of road safety measures. These include new targets, in a bid to cut road deaths and serious injuries in half by 2030. New car safety standards will make life-saving technologies such as Automated Emergency Braking and overridable Intelligent Speed Assistance a standard feature on all new vehicles. At present these features are only available as an option on some models. The Pan-European policing body TISPOL has welcomed this package of measures, which