Intelligent Speed Assist: What is it? The ISA system’s keys
Driving too quickly for conditions is the primary contributor to traffic collisions worldwide.
We make it a habit to push ourselves to our limits.
If there is a sign that tells us we cannot go faster than 120 kilometers per hour, we will already have our foot on the accelerator and be headed toward 140 kilometers per hour.
As Bauman describes it, we are accustomed to moving quickly through life; the liquid society compels us to avoid pausing for even a brief period of rest.
Both of these factors contribute to our propensity to have this mindset.
First, we like to break the rules because exploration and stepping outside our comfort zone allow us to evolve as a species.
Because of this, there is no point in correctly signaling a road, installing radars, having police controls, or conducting awareness campaigns.
All of this has helped to lower the number of accidents (and save lives; this is the most important thing to keep in mind).
Despite this, people will continue to speed when it is not their turn.
Not only does driving over the speed limit fall under the category of running inappropriately, but so does speeding in potentially hazardous conditions, such as when there is fog or when the roads are wet.
Should there be a speed limit in place for cars?
Over the past few decades, remarkable progress has been made in automobiles and roadways’ active and passive safety.
If there is no way to avoid the collision, the very least you can do is ensure the safety of the driver and any passengers.
There is a concerted effort being made by governments and authorities in charge of traffic to identify additional ways to reduce the number of accidents.
When I was younger, I distinctly remember resisting having to wear my safety belt.
There was a consensus that it was not required in any way. Now, almost everyone can be seen sporting it.
However, the automatic regulation of speed is different because it impacts the individual’s degree of liberty. As a society, we have developed some rules and some “traps” that are socially acceptable.
As a result of the oil crisis, drivers in many countries were required to reduce their fuel consumption, which led to the imposition of the current speed limits.
On most highways in Spain, the maximum speed allowed is 120 kilometers per hour, but in some places, it’s only 110 or 130.
And nobody is surprised when they see a car pass in the left lane at a speed of 140 kilometers per hour; even you, dear reader of Motorbli, have likely driven faster than the posted limit at some point.
With the help of the intelligent speed assistant, you won’t be able to go over the posted limits, and we’ll take away your legal ability to set up these“traps.”
When you’re in a rush to get somewhere, you might have to exert a little more effort than usual.
After all, it is our duty… but is that the case? Let’s take a moment to name the victims.
I promise I won’t get more involved in this than I already am: I’m referring to Silvia, who was involved in an accident with a guardrail; I’m referring to Pablo, who passed away when he was only five years old; I’m referring to Jesus and Mariona, who didn’t make it home; etc.
They all perished due to either their reckless behavior or the reckless behavior of others. They would still be among us if all vehicles were equipped with ISA.
What exactly is an intelligent assistant for driving speed?
ISA is an intelligent driving assistant that will be included as a standard feature on all newly manufactured vehicles beginning in May 2022.
For the time being, the European regulation is restricted to only applying to light commercial vehicles and passenger cars. By 2024, this system must be incorporated into all models.
The term “Intelligent Speed Assistance” (ISA) refers to the system, and the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) is the organization that has persistently pushed for it to be implemented by the year 2020.
Despite the absence of skepticism by regulators and automotive lobbies, it was ultimately decided in 2019 to create a regulation for ISAs and other roadside assistants.
This decision was reached after several studies were conducted.
However, what exactly does the device include? It is a video camera mounted on the windshield, and its purpose is to recognize the traffic signs that indicate the speed limits.
In addition, it comes equipped with a navigator database detailing the restrictions imposed by each road. Everything in the system will be recorded in a black box.
The ISA makes the driver aware that the limits are being exceeded; however, in the initial moments, it is the driver who will be responsible for reducing their speed.
There are two scenarios in which a person might choose to ignore the posted speed limit: the first is when the individual believes that the rules do not apply to him, and the second is when the individual is in a unique circumstance.
In the first scenario, the vehicle does not use the brakes after receiving the warning, which increases the risk of an accident.
Instead, it reduces the amount of power it draws from the engine, which brings the vehicle’s speed down.
The signals will limit the vehicle’s speed so it cannot go faster than they indicate.
This procedure can be broken down into the following three stages:
When it comes to the second scenario, for example, when there is a need to pass another vehicle, there is no option to turn off the ISA.
There are separate organizations that have approached the European Commission with the request to develop the possibility of turning off the assistant when faced with these unusual conditions.
In addition, in response to pressure from various lobbies, it has been determined that the ISA can be disabled in certain circumstances.
What exactly does the legislation have to say about the ISA?
After discovering that other motoring media publish inaccurate information, we are providing the following information, which is below the minimum requirements set by the regulation:
Will the measure achieve its intended results?
Tests carried out in Sweden and the Netherlands, the European Commission has reported, indicate that the system has a beneficial effect.
When using ISA, driving speeds were reduced and became more consistent across the board.
No discernible differences were found between the two systems examined in Sweden.
Driving simulators have been used in a significant number of the investigations that have been carried out. For instance, a driving simulator has been used in Great Britain to investigate ISA’s effects on drivers’ propensities to increase or decrease their speed.
They tested three different ISA systems: an open advisory system, a combination of semi-open and closed systems that could be used voluntarily (an on-off switch), and the same system used on a mandatory basis (no on-off switch).
In addition to that, they investigated three distinct classifications of speed limits: fixed, variable, and dynamic.
The effects on the number of accidents were estimated based on the data collected regarding the speeds. According to the estimates, all the systems positively impacted safety, with the design requiring drivers to adhere to dynamic speed limits having the most significant impact.
Some authorities believe that in addition to enhancing safety, ISA also results in a reduction in the amount of fuel that is required.
The ISA has some unintended consequences, and they are not all positive.
But there is also a disadvantage to it. Studies that the European Commission commissioned indicate that several trade-offs have not yet been thoroughly evaluated:
Because of its mandatory nature, which has already been accepted in every EU country, there is no room for debate.
We will observe how its implementation progresses, whether the number of accidents decreases, and whether or not drivers feel at ease using the assistant.
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