[ChiragM]

According to a media report, the European Union (EU) is looking to introduce a raft of safety measures including speed caps relative to the speed limit and road conditions. Last month, Volvo had announced that they would be limiting the top speed of its cars to 180 km/h.



The 30 proposals include automated emergency braking, driver distraction detection systems, lane keeping assist, speed limits, alcohol interlocks, event data recorders and a Direct Vision system that makes vulnerable road users like cyclists or pedestrians more visible to bus and truck drivers. Drowsiness and attention detection, as well as blind spot information system, are also included in the proposal.

The proposals are pending approval from the member countries and the European Parliament. If they are approved, the rules and regulations could be made mandatory for all new cars models from 2022. Existing models would have to comply by 2024.

Alcohol interlock is likely to be installed to prevent drunk driving. The speed limited system could be used to limit speeds in certain road conditions like snowy roads or foggy roads, and in certain zones like around schools and hospitals. The cars could also get a speed warning system. Reports also suggest that the speed cap system or the speed warning system could be overridden by the driver (e.g. on Germany’s unrestricted sections of the Autobahn). Further, information from the data recorder can be used to pinpoint blame during accidents. This data can also be sent to law enforcement agencies if required.

The EU is looking to get the infrastructure ready before implementing these new rules. It is reported that 25,300 people died and 1,35,000 were seriously injured on EU roads in 2017.

Link to Team-BHP News

Source: ExtremeTech, TechCrunch

[GTO]

Mod Note: Thread moved to the Road Safety section!

Originally Posted by ChiragM

Reports also suggest that the speed cap system or the speed warning system could be overridden by the driver (e.g. on Germany’s unrestricted sections of the Autobahn).

They could just geo-fence the speed limits of the car, based on where it is.

Must appreciate Europe's commitment to safety . No coincidence that it's also where the safest cars in the world come from.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by ChiragM

The EU is looking to get the infrastructure ready before implementing these new rules. It is reported that 25,300 people died and 1,35,000 were seriously injured on EU roads in 2017.
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It is an interesting development, but it still remains to be seen how and what pace this will be implemented in the EU. There are considerable differences between the member states as well.

Personally I do not think that they will ever make it mandatory for older/existing cars on the road. It is just to complicated and expensive. Just to put a data point on how many old cars are on the road. In one of the most wealthy prosperous nation in the EU, the Netherlands, the average age of normal passenger cars is eleven years!

There is other legislation that will "motivate" people to upgrade to a new car. E.g. low emissions zones, at some point in time availibity and price of petrol is going to be an issue compared to electric charging etc. etc.

Introducing it via new cars is easier and cheaper.

Anyway, better enjoy my three classic cars as much as I can for as long as I can. That includes belting along at incredible speeds in my Jaguar on the Autobahn.

Jeroen