Transport for London (TfL) has today launched a six-month trial of an Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) technology that can automatically limit a vehicle's acceleration in accordance to local speed limits.
Chris Lines, head of Transport for London's road safety unit, claims the technology could help London drivers avoid speeding penalties and should help reduce road casualties.
ISA allows drivers to select an option where acceleration is stopped automatically at the limit designated by a digital speed limit map of the city. Should two thirds of Londoners use the ISA system, the number of road casualties is estimated to fall by 10 per cent. A fall in the number of collisions should improve congestion, and a smoother driving style could also lower emissions. That's the TfL's theory, at least.
As part of the trial, a London bus will be equipped with the technology and the TfL has plans to install ISA into a taxi and 20 of its own vehicles, too.
To help ease motorist's concerns, the TfL also points out that the automatic speed limiting is entirely optional and can be deactivated at the touch of a button. An in-car mounted display currently provides ISA users with two modes:
- On - ISA won't allow you to accelerate once you've reached the current road's speed limit.
- Advisory - ISA will display a face that smiles when you're within a speed limit, frowns when you're over the speed limit and grimaces and beeps when you continue to accelerate.
- Off - ISA is disabled completely.
Whilst all three modes can be easily selected, one would imagine that the long-term goal is to make ISA compulsory in all road vehicles. TfL's six-month trial hopes to research how drivers in all types of vehicles respond to ISA, and its results will be published in Spring 2010 when the technology is expected to become commercially available.
How do you feel about automatic speed limiting? Is it the right approach to safer roads? Do you believe it will reduce congestion and lower emissions? Share your thoughts in the HEXUS.community forums.
