ISA is on it's way.......
Discussion
But not in my car 
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1164020,00.html
Car computer to stop you speeding
By Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent
THE Government is to establish a national speed limits database that will pave the way for all cars to be fitted with devices that prevent speeding.
The digital speed map of Britain is an essential first step towards introducing Intelligent Speed Adaptation, known as ISA, which automatically applies the brakes or blocks acceleration.
An on-board computer linked to a satellite positioning system will use the digital map to identify the local speed limit. If drivers attempt to exceed the limit, they hear a series of bleeps and the accelerator pedal starts vibrating.
The device will be offered initially as an optional extra by car manufacturers but ministers have not ruled out eventually making some version of the system compulsory.
The Government’s senior transport adviser believes ISA could eliminate the need for speed cameras and road humps once the majority of vehicles have been fitted.
David Begg, chairman of the Commission for Integrated Transport, said: “Motorists will choose to have this technology on their cars because it will prevent them from inadvertently exceeding the speed limit and will save many from losing their licences.
“Speed cameras and road humps could be removed because there would be far greater compliance with the speed limit.” Professor Begg said that courts could be given the option of ordering motorists to have ISA fitted to their cars as an alternative to a driving ban.
The Department for Transport has commissioned a series of trials of ISA in Leeds and Leicester. But there is no central speed limits database for the whole country and many local authorities have poor records of the limits on their roads.
The Department for Transport believes the absence of a national database is hampering development of ISA, which it hopes will initially be offered as an option by car manufacturers.
The DfT has now invited expressions of interest from the private sector to create a national speed limits database.
A DfT spokesman said: “If the whole country was mapped, it might make it more logical and practical for manufacturers to consider offering ISA. There could well be road safety benefits from ISA.”
Oliver Carsten, Professor of Transport Safety at Leeds University, said: “The digital speed map is a necessary first step for a commercial ISA system, which would prevent many road deaths and injuries.”
A previous research project by Professor Carsten estimated that ISA would reduce crashes involving deaths or injuries by 20 per cent. But he said that the casualty reduction would double if a more advanced system was introduced which took account of conditions.
He said that even the simplest versions of ISA would prevent drivers from drifting over the limit and being flashed by speed cameras. “Roads are complicated and people make genuine errors when guessing the limit. Not everyone can measure the distance between lamp posts and ISA will remove uncertainty by displaying the limit on the dashboard.”
The Automobile Association said that drivers would welcome ISA as an extra tool to help them to drive safely but did not want “Big Brother” in the back seat taking control of the car.
Paul Watters, the AA’s head of roads policy, said: “There are concerns that this system could be draconian and restrict freedom. But as long as it remains optional and can be switched off then it could be very useful.”
Several other European countries, including Norway and the Netherlands, have already produced national digital speed maps or are about to complete them.
Initial results from the trials suggest that people might feel frustrated by the system if only a minority of cars have it. But once most vehicles are constrained, drivers are inclined to welcome it.
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1164020,00.html
Car computer to stop you speeding
By Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent
THE Government is to establish a national speed limits database that will pave the way for all cars to be fitted with devices that prevent speeding.
The digital speed map of Britain is an essential first step towards introducing Intelligent Speed Adaptation, known as ISA, which automatically applies the brakes or blocks acceleration.
An on-board computer linked to a satellite positioning system will use the digital map to identify the local speed limit. If drivers attempt to exceed the limit, they hear a series of bleeps and the accelerator pedal starts vibrating.
The device will be offered initially as an optional extra by car manufacturers but ministers have not ruled out eventually making some version of the system compulsory.
The Government’s senior transport adviser believes ISA could eliminate the need for speed cameras and road humps once the majority of vehicles have been fitted.
David Begg, chairman of the Commission for Integrated Transport, said: “Motorists will choose to have this technology on their cars because it will prevent them from inadvertently exceeding the speed limit and will save many from losing their licences.
“Speed cameras and road humps could be removed because there would be far greater compliance with the speed limit.” Professor Begg said that courts could be given the option of ordering motorists to have ISA fitted to their cars as an alternative to a driving ban.
The Department for Transport has commissioned a series of trials of ISA in Leeds and Leicester. But there is no central speed limits database for the whole country and many local authorities have poor records of the limits on their roads.
The Department for Transport believes the absence of a national database is hampering development of ISA, which it hopes will initially be offered as an option by car manufacturers.
The DfT has now invited expressions of interest from the private sector to create a national speed limits database.
A DfT spokesman said: “If the whole country was mapped, it might make it more logical and practical for manufacturers to consider offering ISA. There could well be road safety benefits from ISA.”
Oliver Carsten, Professor of Transport Safety at Leeds University, said: “The digital speed map is a necessary first step for a commercial ISA system, which would prevent many road deaths and injuries.”
A previous research project by Professor Carsten estimated that ISA would reduce crashes involving deaths or injuries by 20 per cent. But he said that the casualty reduction would double if a more advanced system was introduced which took account of conditions.
He said that even the simplest versions of ISA would prevent drivers from drifting over the limit and being flashed by speed cameras. “Roads are complicated and people make genuine errors when guessing the limit. Not everyone can measure the distance between lamp posts and ISA will remove uncertainty by displaying the limit on the dashboard.”
The Automobile Association said that drivers would welcome ISA as an extra tool to help them to drive safely but did not want “Big Brother” in the back seat taking control of the car.
Paul Watters, the AA’s head of roads policy, said: “There are concerns that this system could be draconian and restrict freedom. But as long as it remains optional and can be switched off then it could be very useful.”
Several other European countries, including Norway and the Netherlands, have already produced national digital speed maps or are about to complete them.
Initial results from the trials suggest that people might feel frustrated by the system if only a minority of cars have it. But once most vehicles are constrained, drivers are inclined to welcome it.
David Begg said:
Motorists will choose to have this technology on their cars because it will prevent them from inadvertently exceeding the speed limit and will save many from losing their licences.
Mr Begg appears to have made a successfull career of talking total bo
ks. The number of people that would voluntarily pay to have this fitted to their car must surely be practicaly zero. Having said that, if it removed all the speed cameras and road humps (as if!) and only speed limited in built up/residential areas it may gain greater appeal.
article said:
The Automobile Association said that drivers would welcome ISA as an extra tool to help them to drive safely but did not want “Big Brother” in the back seat taking control of the car.
Paul Watters, the AA’s head of roads policy, said: “There are concerns that this system could be draconian and restrict freedom. But as long as it remains optional and can be switched off then it could be very useful.”
Sounds like tagging to me! Open to abuse!
Not in my car! Shall keep my b2 on the dash!
One of things people love about thier cars is the freedom.
No if you are anticar and want people out of them what better thing to do than take away that freedom.
Given that vast majority of road accidents occur within the speed limit, i think that the safty benefits of this system would be very little.
No if you are anticar and want people out of them what better thing to do than take away that freedom.
Given that vast majority of road accidents occur within the speed limit, i think that the safty benefits of this system would be very little.
In some way... I almost want this to happen, just to prove to all the thinkofthechildrenlentialists that speed isn't the main issue when it comes to accidents.
In fact, I can almost imagine the accident rate go up if this were introduced for two reasons.
-People will feel a false sense of security while they drive at exactly the speed limit and perhaps not be concentrating on their driving.
-People who want to have fun when driving will probably not slow down for tight bends and will try to go around them full throttle 'just for fun'. This combined with a lack of skill will lead to some bad accident figures.
>> Edited by forever_driving on Thursday 1st July 11:50
In fact, I can almost imagine the accident rate go up if this were introduced for two reasons.
-People will feel a false sense of security while they drive at exactly the speed limit and perhaps not be concentrating on their driving.
-People who want to have fun when driving will probably not slow down for tight bends and will try to go around them full throttle 'just for fun'. This combined with a lack of skill will lead to some bad accident figures.
>> Edited by forever_driving on Thursday 1st July 11:50
Over my dead body.
The thought of Mr and Mrs Numpty driving past my local schools at 8:30am on the 30mph limiter is terrifying.
"Hey, modern cars are so comfortable and quiet one hardly knows one is driving - let's remove another element of human interaction......"
If it was a sit-com, you wouldn't believe it.
The thought of Mr and Mrs Numpty driving past my local schools at 8:30am on the 30mph limiter is terrifying.
"Hey, modern cars are so comfortable and quiet one hardly knows one is driving - let's remove another element of human interaction......"
If it was a sit-com, you wouldn't believe it.
Given the standard of every other national database, I can just imagine the sort of carnage we'd have on the roads.
The data collection would be inconsistent, so in some areas it would always be the posted speed limit, while at others local advisory limits (such as for tight corners) would be included resulting in some serious accidents as people from a different region assumed that their car would brake for them ofr the bend only to find it didn't.
There would be sudden spots of 20mph limiter in the middle of motorways resulting in massive deceleration and people losing control and complaining of whiplash.
Only some temporary limits (for roadworks) would be added to the database and some would not be removed after the works had finished.
Imagine the fun they'd have with the variable speed limit section of the M25.
What would happen in tunnels?
The whole thing is illconceived and unworkable and will lead to a huge hike an accidents as yet more skills are drained from an already poor average driver.
The data collection would be inconsistent, so in some areas it would always be the posted speed limit, while at others local advisory limits (such as for tight corners) would be included resulting in some serious accidents as people from a different region assumed that their car would brake for them ofr the bend only to find it didn't.
There would be sudden spots of 20mph limiter in the middle of motorways resulting in massive deceleration and people losing control and complaining of whiplash.
Only some temporary limits (for roadworks) would be added to the database and some would not be removed after the works had finished.
Imagine the fun they'd have with the variable speed limit section of the M25.
What would happen in tunnels?
The whole thing is illconceived and unworkable and will lead to a huge hike an accidents as yet more skills are drained from an already poor average driver.
It would never work, everyone would be on the limiter, mistakenly, under the impression it was safer.
Majority of accidencts are caused by inattention, only 7% (I think) are down to (GET IT RIGHT) "inappropriate use of speed".
Lets spend the money on driver training, not turning driving into a mundane function....
Majority of accidencts are caused by inattention, only 7% (I think) are down to (GET IT RIGHT) "inappropriate use of speed".
Lets spend the money on driver training, not turning driving into a mundane function....
HGVs are limited and they never crash, right?
In terms of a system that just passively informed you of the limit, then maybe, but to actively limit the car? Never.
This would be a disaster - people would be bored out of their heads, fall asleep at the wheel or just tool about permanently on the limiter. Keep removing driver input and standards will drop even lower.
Can you see those within SCPs going for this? Kiss goodbye to your pension lads....
In terms of a system that just passively informed you of the limit, then maybe, but to actively limit the car? Never.
This would be a disaster - people would be bored out of their heads, fall asleep at the wheel or just tool about permanently on the limiter. Keep removing driver input and standards will drop even lower.
Can you see those within SCPs going for this? Kiss goodbye to your pension lads....
Anyone who says this has surely never ever driven a car or ridden a motorbike:
"...Roads are complicated and people make genuine errors when guessing the limit...
What the hell has having to "guess the limit" got to do with "safe" driving?
I truly cannot believe the ignorance in someone that would lead them to say such a thing.
Just get in your car, put a brick on the throttle and we'll all be safe! No need to think!
Anyway, such devices on any car of mine would simply not work.
"...Roads are complicated and people make genuine errors when guessing the limit...
What the hell has having to "guess the limit" got to do with "safe" driving?
I truly cannot believe the ignorance in someone that would lead them to say such a thing.
Just get in your car, put a brick on the throttle and we'll all be safe! No need to think!
Anyway, such devices on any car of mine would simply not work.
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