High-speed avoiding safety tech to become mandatory in Europe from July

Under the expanded General Vehicle Safety Regulation first announced in 2019, fleets will have to adopt two new safety technologies from July 2024, improving the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and adding new equations to fleet management. 

The GSR2, which aims to reduce accidents on European roads significantly, includes a wide range of technologies, including ‘drowsiness detection‘ and Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA). The second wave of GSR2 is expected to come into effect on 6 July 2024, making ISA mandatory for vehicles in the European Union (EU), including Northern Ireland. 

The new safety technologies will require related detection systems to be installed in passenger cars and thus require mandatory investment for fleets, increasing the importance of negotiations with insurance companies. Even though the new safety techs can be turned off, new car policies and driver training will almost inevitably comply with the safety goals. 

What is ISA?

ISA aims to identify the speed limit and reduce vehicle speed if the limit is exceeded. ISA uses GPS to locate the vehicle and mapping data to detect the speed limit, while onboard cameras use sign recognition to check speed limit signs. If the speed limit is exceeded, ISA uses several systems to reduce the speed, including acoustic warning, vibrating warning, haptic feedback, which pushes the driver’s foot away from the pedal, and speed control, reducing engine output gradually. 

ISA came into effect in July 2022 for new models and types of vehicles and will be mandatory for all new cars sold from July 2024. According to the European Commission (EC), the ISA system does not intend to restrict the driver in any moment of driving, keeping them constantly in control and enabling them to override the ISA system. 

The new safety tech’s nature may extend the training for drivers already adapting to electric vehicles (EVs) and telematics. Safety environmental compliances appear to increase with each new technology, impacting impact and management systems. 

Death toll to drop significantly

GSR2 technologies may increase retail prices but are expected to be vital for safety on European roads. According to the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), many drivers see ISA as a positive step, even though adapting will take some time. Additionally, ETSC says the tech can reduce deaths by 20%. 

According to Leeds University, the tech can reduce injuries by up to 12%, drastically reducing the risk of collisions, says the Telegraph. This is the goal of the EC, which also states that car manufacturers now have the opportunity to maximise the potential of the ISA technology to make roads safer. 

The main photo is courtesy of Shutterstock, 716607445.