EU Mandates Speed Limiters in All New Cars: What You Need to Know
Speed limiters are now a standard feature in all new cars sold in the European Union, thanks to the implementation of Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology. The new regulations, which took effect on July 7th, aim to enhance road safety across the continent.
This policy follows a 2019 decision by the European Commission mandating ISA in all new vehicle models introduced from July 2022. Now, two years later, the technology is required in all new cars.
While the UK is no longer bound by EU law, it’s unlikely that manufacturers will create separate versions for the British market.
How Does ISA Work?
ISA utilizes a combination of technologies to monitor and manage vehicle speed. It primarily relies on data from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), such as GPS, and digital maps to recognize the speed limit on a given road. The system may also incorporate physical sign recognition.
When a driver exceeds the speed limit, the ISA system must issue a notification. However, according to the European Road Safety Charter, the system is designed “not to restrict his/her possibility to act in any moment during driving.” The driver always retains control and can override the system.
According to the regulations, manufacturers have four main options for implementing ISA. The first two, including acoustic or vibrating warnings, are non-interventive. The latter two provide haptic feedback through the accelerator pedal or, a speed limiter, will intervene.
The European Commission noted that even in the case of speed control, the system can easily be overridden with the accelerator pedal.
Rod Dennis, a road safety spokesperson for the RAC, said, “While it’s not currently mandated that cars sold in the UK have to be fitted with Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) systems, we’d be surprised if manufacturers deliberately excluded the feature from those they sell in the UK as it would add unnecessary cost to production.”
One driver who tested cars with this technology found it a bit inconsistent. Occasionally, roads signs weren’t interpreted correctly and maps were out of date. The car would then believe the speed limit to be different, which led to beeps and vibrations to alert the driver.
Dennis also cautioned, “Anyone getting a new vehicle would be well advised to familiarise themselves with ISA and how it works.”
It’s important to remember that the technology is still a driver aid and can be overridden if necessary.
