The EU Commission is calling for the mandatory installation of a range of safety features on new cars sold in Europe.
As part of the third element of the Commission’s ‘Europe on the Move’ strategy it is proposed that systems such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane assist and intelligent speed adaptation (ISA) are fitted as standard.
The plans are part of attempts to cut the number of people hurt on roads in the EU: in 2017, 25,300 people died and 135,000 were seriously injured.
The Commission is also calling for member states to identify dangerous road sections and “to better target investment”. The ultimate goal is to move close to zero fatalities and serious injuries on the roads by 2050; the so-called Vision Zero.
In the UK, AEB is currently fitted as standard on around 30% of all new cars sold and is available as an optional extra on another 30%, though only a small fraction of consumers actually opt for it.
ISA would see the vehicle automatically sticking to the speed limit.
“For all its high-tech sophistication ISA will only be good as the speed limit data it relies on. From more 20mph zones in cities to constantly varying limits on smart motorways, speed setting is increasingly localised and diverse.