Thousands of people are killed on UK roads every year.
One of the major contributory factors in a large percentage of these road traffic accidents is speed.
Speed calming measures such as road humps and speed cameras have made some impact but speeding continues to be an issue on UK roads.
Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) is a general term for Intelligent Transport Systems that serve to limit the speed of a vehicle. By restricting the vehicle to the speed limits, ISA potentially provides one of the most effective strategies for reducing speeds on our roads.
The UK ISA project began in January 2001 and was funded by the Department for Transport and undertaken by the University of Leeds and the Motor Industry Research Association.
Results from the study whereby a fleet of cars had devices fitted to them which monitored their speed via beacons strategically placed along the roads and applied their brakes in the evnt of excessive speed could potentially save up to 720 lives.
The in-car device could cut road deaths by 25% if it was made compulsory and fitted to all cars the Government study revealed, and The Department of Transport forecast that voluntary application of the device would save around 256 lives (10%) a year.
If the study proved accurate, look at the time and financial savings this could realise for the emergency services, freeing them up for other emergency situations which could in fact indirectly increase the number of lives saved in other areas.
To override this automated speed control device, users would simply depress their accelerator firmly, or push a special button.
There is no indication at present whether drivers who have one of these devices fitted to their car can expect to receive discounts from insurers but we will keep our fingers crossed on that one!
The Government however, ever fearful of further negative reaction from motorists have welcomed the results but insists it would not make the system compulsory.
The Department for Transport said:
Consider These:‘It could be a useful road safety feature for drivers who wish to use it.’
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