Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) is getting a boost from the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), and is intended to slow down traffic to safer speeds in order to bring down the death rate. From the ETSC:
ISA uses a speed sign-recognition video camera and/or GPS-linked speed limit data to advise drivers of the current speed limit and automatically limit the speed of the vehicle as needed. ISA systems do not automatically apply the brakes, but simply limit engine power preventing the vehicle from accelerating past the current speed limit unless overridden or switched off. The first vehicles with this kind of ISA system factory fitted have begun appearing on the market – helped in part by Euro NCAP’s decision to reward extra points for vehicles that include ISA. …
The importance of the adoption of the technology cannot be underestimated. ISA is expected to reduce collisions by 30% and deaths by 20%.
ISA has been trialled in many member states, and while drivers take a short time to adjust to the technology, the majority appreciated it. One obvious benefit, as Ford has pointed out in a recent marketing campaign, is that it helps drivers avoid speeding tickets.
This would probably become a matter of conflict in the United States, given a long, if unfortunately, tradition of going fast on the highways (although not as consistently fast as on the European autobahns – but I believe this is for side streets and minor highways). It’s a little hard to come up with a valid argument beyond that of the importance of the freedom to control your own car – and your own destiny.
Unfortunately, that destiny ends up being tangled up with everyone else’s.
