New European Union regulations will soon make it mandatory for all new cars sold to be equipped with Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) and an Event Data Recorder (EDR), often referred to as a "black box." These measures aim to enhance road safety by curbing speeding and facilitating accident investigations.
ISA warns drivers when they exceed the speed limit, a measure already implemented in cars released after 2022. However, the system is now mandatory for all new cars from July 7.
Manufacturers can choose from various ISA alert methods such as:
Drivers can override these alerts, for example, in dangerous traffic situations. However, ISA must be reactivated every time the car is started.
The black box records speed, ABS activity, and steering angle continuously, but only stores data immediately before, during, and after a collision. This data, protected under European privacy rules, is anonymised and accessible only for legal proceedings or road safety research.
The EU highlights the EDR's importance in police investigations and insurance assessments, providing crucial information about accident causes and despite concerns, a survey conducted by SWOV indicates that over 80% of motorists are willing to use ISA systems.
Overall, the introduction of mandatory ISA and EDR systems in new cars marks a significant step towards improving road safety in Europe. While there may be some initial challenges and adjustments, these technologies are expected to play a crucial role in reducing accidents and fatalities caused by speeding.
