Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA)
The latest addition to your car's safety features is ISA. But what exactly is ISA?
ISA stands for Intelligent Speed Assistance. As of Sunday, July 7, 2024, all new cars in the EU must have ISA systems installed as part of a safety regulation mandate. While this isn’t legally required in the UK, most new vehicles sold there will still include this speed-limiting technology due to manufacturer practices.
So, what does ISA do?
The system uses cameras and GPS data to identify the speed limit in your area. If you exceed the limit, it will alert you with visual or audible warnings.
If you continue to speed despite these warnings, the system automatically reduces engine power to bring your speed down.
You can override the system by pressing harder on the accelerator, and you currently have the option to disable ISA before starting a trip, though it resets each time the vehicle is restarted.
However, the system isn’t foolproof—if signs are missing or damaged, ISA may not detect them. Depending on how successful this technology proves to be and the results of future testing, there may come a time when disabling ISA is no longer an option, except in emergencies.
NCAP Safety Testing
In addition to ISA, modern vehicles are now equipped with a range of new safety systems to meet NCAP safety criteria. In the past, features like seatbelts, ABS, and traction control were groundbreaking innovations that are now standard. Here are some of the latest systems you'll find in new vehicles:
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) Systems
AEB systems use sensors to detect potential hazards in front of the vehicle. If the driver doesn’t react in time, the system automatically applies the brakes to avoid or reduce the severity of a collision.
Occupant Status Monitoring
While seatbelts remain the most crucial safety feature, modern vehicles now include systems that monitor the driver’s attention. These technologies can detect driver fatigue or distraction, either through eye-monitoring sensors or by analysing driving behaviors that suggest impairment.
Lane Assist
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) systems help correct a vehicle's course if it starts veering out of its lane. Typically, the system issues a warning to prompt the driver to steer back into the lane, but it can also apply a small amount of steering to prevent lane departure. Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK) systems are more aggressive, intervening only in critical situations, such as when a vehicle is about to run off the road.
Why all this technology?
All these technologies aim to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads. In 2022, the most recent year for which data is available, an average of five people died on UK roads each day, with 76 more seriously injured.
Motorways are the safest places to travel, accounting for just 6% of deaths and 3% of serious injuries.
Built-up areas account for 65% of serious injuries and 42% of deaths.
Non-built-up areas contribute to 52% of deaths and 32% of serious injuries.
These innovations in vehicle safety are crucial steps toward making our roads safer for everyone.
Despite the significant increase in the number of cars on the road over the years, the number of fatalities has dramatically decreased. In 1979, there were nearly 6,000 fatalities on UK roads. Since around 2012, this number has stabilised at roughly 1,700 fatalities per year. With the introduction of new cars and advanced technologies, there’s hope that this downward trend will continue.
If you would like to see the full government report about road casualties then head to the gov.uk website