Researchers at the Universities of Sheffield and Greenwich have developed an evidence-based leaflet and animation to promote the use of Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) whilst driving, in a bid to reduce the number of speed-related collisions.
ISA is an effective in-car technology that helps drivers to stay within speed limits. ISA systems identify the local speed limit using speed map data combined with satellite global positioning information and/or camera recognition of speed limit signs.
There are many variations on ISA but the majority fit into two broad categories. Advisory ISA provides visual/audio warning to the driver when the speed limit is exceeded, while intervening ISA actually reduces vehicle power, gradually slowing the vehicle until it is under the speed limit.
The European Union legislated that all new cars sold from 2024 should have a version of ISA fitted, although similar legislation is yet to be introduced in the UK, following exit from the European Union.
Using funding from The Road Safety Trust, researchers from the Universities of Sheffield and Greenwich have spent three years exploring effective ways to enhance the acceptability and use of ISA by drivers in the UK. They created educational materials designed to strengthen underlying positive beliefs about the technology and to dispel misconceptions. An evaluation showed it has the potential to change intended behaviour, drivers were more likely to use ISA after seeing the leaflet and animation.
The key recommendations of this study are for road safety practitioners to improve adherence to in-car safety technology using evaluated approaches and for policy-makers to consider making intervening ISA as widely available as possible in new vehicles, ideally through legislation.
Their findings demonstrate that this safety-enhancing improvement would be supported by drivers, provided there is an override option, as well as sufficient and reliable infrastructure to support ISA systems working effectively.
Drivers who took part in the study also emphasised the importance of persuasion and increased awareness of ISA as tools to help improve uptake and effective usage.
The researchers found that road safety educational campaigns would be well-placed to address this knowledge gap. They also note that such campaigns can encourage individuals proactively to choose to use ISA in the absence of legislation.
Richard Rowe, Professor of Psychology at the University of Sheffield, said: “Intelligent Speed Assistance can help drivers stay within the speed limit. This can reduce their risk of being involved in a crash or receiving a speeding penalty. We hope that our research can increase the uptake of this technology, and help to maximise its road safety potential.”
Ruth Purdie OBE, Chief Executive of The Road Safety Trust, said: “Speeding is one of the fatal four causes of road collisions. It is exceptionally dangerous.
“This report highlights that ISA is an effective method to help drivers remain within the speed limit. Unfortunately, at present, such groundbreaking safety technology is not commonplace in UK vehicles.
“The research reveals what is required both to increase the access to, and uptake of, ISA by UK drivers – and therefore to help reduce the number of speed related collisions which remains far too high.”
To access the leaflet and animation, as well as to find out more about the project, visit The Road Safety Trust website.
My car does indeed have Adaptive Cruise Control, keeping a distance when, say a slower vehicle pulls out to my lane, and returning to the set speed when they return to their lane.
And the system also responds to speed limits – definitely by recognising signs but, I believe, based on mapping data. So, it can (when selected) adjust to speed limits – lower or higher.
But it occasionally gets it wrong – on one local 60mph stretch it suddenly decides it’s 40, and another 40mph stretch where it thinks there is a short 30 segment. They are the inevitable weaknesses that undermine the credibility and safety of ISA and driverless cars.
Eric Bridgstock, St Albans
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I find Eric Bridgstock’s experience alarming to say the least. Surely this can’t be right? As Fraser Andrew suggests, it could be very serious fault that needs checking out. I’ve always assumed ISA simply capped the vehicle’s speed to whatever the prevailing limit was…not blindly accelerating up to that speed limit each time!
Hugh Jones, South Wirral
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The technology that Mr Bridgstock is referring to in his car doesn’t sound like ISA. It sounds more like iACC (Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control). The ISA function is purely a speed limiter and does not have the ability to accelerate the car or even maintain a set speed without driver input. iACC will, however, attempt to set the vehicle’s speed to the speed limit and may not be the best technology to be using on unfamiliar roads other than highways/motorways.
In addition, a well implemented ISA system should not cause sudden braking where there are ‘few cues for a following driver’, as it should be based on the speed limit of the road and speed signs that are visible to all road users. It is, after all, assisting the driver in staying within the speed limit. In any case, a following driver should always be leaving adequate stopping distance to avoid a collision in the event that the vehicle ahead slows or even stops suddenly.
Alex Thompson, Basingstoke
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If Mr Bridgstock’s car really behaves in the way he suggests, then perhaps he should return it to the agent from whom he purchased it. It’ll never get past its MoT, anyway. As to ISA, I wonder how autonomous vehicles will manage without it. Perhaps Mr Bridgstock has a solution.
In my view, ISA shock have been compulsory years ago, as should have been GDL.
Fraser Andrew, STIRLING
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My car has ISA and as I leave say, a 40mph limit, and go into a 60mph road, it automatically accelerates towards 60. That was an unpleasant experience when it first happened, coming out of Potters Bar on an unfamiliar winding road in the dark. For less experienced drivers, that could have been very dangerous.
Add to that the fact that ISA may cause sudden braking or speed reduction when there are few cues for a following driver that slowing is likely, which also creates a hazardous condition.
Back in 2009, I challenged Prof Oliver Carsten (the main architect of ISA) for a safety case showing that it would prevent more collisions than it caused. Nothing was forthcoming – he was in denial of such scenarios.
ISA is based on wishful thinking and its potential benefits are grossly overtstated.
Eric Bridgstock, St Albans
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