UK drivers have been issued a four-week warning of motoring laws being tightened in an attempt to crackdown on the number of speeding fines and accidents.
From July, the UK could see EU speed limiters being installed in cars. All showroom vehicles will be required to come equipped with Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) technology. Cars that have already been manufactured but have yet to be sold will also have to adhere to the new rules.
“The new rules,” a spokesperson for Motor Match said, “introduce ‘mandatory’ speed limiters, changing how we drive on roads.
“These [ISA] systems will become standard, forcing drivers to stick to speed limits automatically. For instance, ISA technology would limit you to a maximum of 70mph as this is the national speed limit”. They added that while limiters are already present in many cars, such regulations would tighten control.
“Showing support for the introduction of mandatory speed limiters is key in supporting safer roads,” they added.
ISA, according to the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) uses speed sign-recognition video camera and/or GPS-linked speed limit data to advise drivers of the current speed limit and automatically limit the speed of the vehicle as needed. While the system does not automatically apply the brakes, it does limit engine power preventing the vehicle from accelerating the current speed limit unless overridden.
Vehicles with this system factory fitted are already on sale – helped in part by Euro NCAP’s decision to reward extra points for vehicles that include ISA. Models which are already on sale which feature a version of Intelligent Speed Assist include Fiat 500x and Ford Focus, while Intelligent Speed Limiter is already installed in Honda’s Civic and Jazz models, as well as the Jaguar F-Pace.
The ETSC continued that “ISA has been trialled in many member states, and while drivers take a short time to adjust to the technology, the majority appreciated it. One obvious benefit, as Ford has pointed out in a recent marketing campaign, is that it helps drivers avoid speeding tickets.”
Ford also said that the ISA technology enables the driver to concentrate on the road, but it remained the responsibility of the driver to “ensure speed limits are adhered to at all times.”
According to the Motor Match’s statement, police records from last year showed that exceeding the speed limit was a contributing factor in 20 percent of road deaths, while travelling too fast or exceeding the speed limit contributed to 25 percent.
“Speed limits are set for a reason, and it’s illegal to ignore them,” the spokesperson concluded.
Drivers will be able to switch off the limiters, but will need to be deactivated every time they get back into the car.
The legislation states that it applies to all cars sold in Europe, not just EU member states, therefore it still applies to the UK.