Experts have called for drivers to face disciplinary action if they fail to adhere to the upcoming speed limiter rules set to be unveiled next month.
Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology can automatically slow down a vehicle if a driver exceeds the speed limit on roads under European Union rules.
The requirement comes into effect from July 7 with all new cars needing to have the mandatory safety feature installed.
The technology uses GPS and traffic sign data to warn drivers when they are going over the speed limit on the road they’re travelling on.
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An expert has called for drivers to be ‘disciplined’ over speed limit rules
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Now, one expert is highlighting that while speed limiters and the ISA technology can be “overridden” in cars, drivers should be punished if they do so.
Peter Golding, managing director at Fleet Check, explained that due to the systems being able to be overridden drivers must make a “conscious effort” to do so, and fleets should make it clear that will not be tolerated.
He said: “While this technology is not perfect, it will provide valuable guidance to drivers on the road in real-time. They will almost always know when they are exceeding the speed limit.
“In risk management terms, tolerating any speeding offences is potentially questionable and, in our opinion, this technology makes it even more so.”
He added that the UK is moving into an era when there should be “something approaching zero tolerance for speeding”.
Under new European Union rules, all cars sold in showrooms need to be required to have ISA fitted, regardless of where the vehicle was manufactured.
The Department for Transport has commissioned research to look at the benefits and implications of these technologies across the UK and is expected to provide updates in due course.
The DfT remains a member of the European New Car Assessment Programme which already incentivises many of the technologies flagged in the legislation.
It works with the driver as an assisting function, through the accelerator control, or through other measures but the driver always has full control of the speed of the vehicle.
The European Commission stated that it is an “effective safety measure” because even a slightly lower speed has a “significant beneficial effect” on accident avoidance or mitigation of the accident outcome.
Golding added: “There will no doubt be some pushback about this from some drivers who feel this kind of technology is invasive or annoying but it is difficult to argue with the positive safety impact.
“ISA’s introduction is very much something that should be welcomed and relayed to drivers as a positive step that will help to protect them on the road.”
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The system flags to drivers when they need to slow down
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The Commission detailed how it is empowered to lay down detailed rules “concerning the specific test procedures and technical requirements for the type-approval of motor vehicles”.