(PatriotSpotlight.org) – The European Union (EU) will legally require all new cars and trucks purchased after July 6, 2024, to have Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) capabilities. This system is able to alert drivers when they are driving above legal speed limits, with the ability to reduce the vehicle’s speed if required. The UK, which voted to leave the EU in 2019, has said it will not enforce ISA use, leaving it up to drivers whether they activate or deactivate the new software.
ISA technology uses a front-mounted camera to monitor speed limit signs and pairs these updates with GPS data to estimate the necessary speed limits along different routes. If a vehicle drives above the limit, ISA prompts alerts via beeps or vibrations that may be heard or felt throughout the vehicle. If the driver subsequently does not lower speed, the system is able to automatically slow down the car to maintain the relevant speed limit. Safety experts suggest that a Europe-wide rollout of ISA may lower collisions by as much as 30 percent, and road fatalities by around 20 percent. It will also help drivers circumvent speeding tickets and fines.
A number of car manufacturers have offered optional ISA since 2015. Since 2022, the EU has mandated all new cars to have the technology enabled. A recent Leeds University study found that, with ISA fully enabled across all road vehicles, the UK could achieve a 12% reduction in traffic-related casualties. However, the UK has decided to instead offer drivers control over their own driving decisions. Naturally, such a move is sparking conversation about the tricky balance between road safety and personal freedom.
The EU’s push to require ISA was kickstarted in 2018 in light of shocking road accident figures. That same year, data suggested some 25,000 people were dying across Europe each year due to road collisions. In 2022 across Great Britain, there were an estimated 1,711 fatalities due to road accidents, a fall of 2 percent in comparison to 2019.
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