Skip to main content

New film highlights life-saving potential of ISA technology for new cars

A new film from the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) makes the case for making intelligent speed assistance (ISA) which can be overridden a standard feature on all new vehicles in Europe. The five-minute video has been launched as the European Commission continues work on the development of the next generation of vehicle safety standards, expected to be launched later this year. A major study for the Commission published last year by consultants TRL found that ISA is one of several new vehicl
February 1, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
A new film from the 3535 European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) makes the case for making intelligent speed assistance (ISA) which can be overridden a standard feature on all new vehicles in Europe.
 
The five-minute video has been launched as the European Commission continues work on the development of the next generation of vehicle safety standards, expected to be launched later this year.

A major study for the Commission published last year by consultants TRL found that ISA is one of several new vehicle technologies that are now suitable for mandatory fitting on new cars as they are ‘feasible in terms of the technology required’, already available on the market and offer a positive benefit-cost ratio.

Several vehicles currently in showrooms already feature the technology including the Ford S-Max/Galaxy and Volvo XC90. The European consumer safety rating organisation 6437 Euro NCAP awards additional points to cars fitted with ISA.

Ellen Townsend, policy director of ETSC said: "Getting Intelligent Speed Assistance technology in all new cars will help Europe maintain at the cutting edge as the industry moves increasingly towards automated driving. This is an automated feature that is proven, effective and available now.

"Speed is one of the biggest killers on our roads. With the potential to cut deaths by 20%, ISA really is a no-brainer."

The film includes a demonstration of the system by Oliver Carsten of the University of Leeds in a production Ford Galaxy factory-fitted with ISA. It also features expert contributions from Aled Williams of Euro NCAP, Dr Áine Carroll, a leading expert in post-crash rehabilitation, Koen Ricour of the European Traffic Police Network TISPOL and Ms Townsend of ETSC.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • In-vehicle warning systems ‘reduce risk of run-off-the-road crashes’
    August 27, 2015
    In-vehicle lane-departure warning systems can help reduce the risk of dangerous run-off-the-road crashes, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Minnesota’s HumanFIRST Laboratory. “Run-off-the-road crashes are a huge concern, especially in rural areas,” says project co-investigator Jennifer Cooper, a HumanFIRST Lab assistant scientist. “Crash statistics tell us they contribute to more than half of all vehicle fatalities nationwide and that these crashes occur most often on two-la
  • Australia gets ready to rumble for safety
    December 18, 2020
    Victorian programme part of $1.4 billion Andrews Labor Government roads package 
  • Flexibility, interoperability is key to future traffic management
    February 3, 2012
    Jon Taylor of Faber Maunsell and Tabatha Bailey of Transport for London describe how an unusual mix of traffic practitioners, researchers and industry are working together to build new tools for the future. As we face higher expectations for managing congestion from both citizens and politicians, and as more and more data is becoming available from new sources, our traffic management challenge is changing.
  • MEPs demand truck tolls to curb CO2 emissions
    November 20, 2015
    Fourteen MEPs have signed a letter to EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc demanding the European Commission propose legislation to impose new tolls on trucks, according to Euractiv. The Commission's Energy Union plans announced earlier this year dropped truck tolls laid out in earlier versions. There is currently no CO2 standard for trucks in Europe, although car and van CO2 emissions are limited. European Commission data shows trucks contributing one quarter of CO2 emissions from road transport in