A step towards autonomy?
Is Intelligent Speed Assistance a step along the road
towards fully autonomous vehicles, or a dead end?
With all new vehicles
expected to be
‘connected’ by 2025
and the UK’s Society of
Motor Manufacturers and
Traders (SMMT) predicating
that a significant number of
vehicles in the UK will be fully
autonomous after 2035, is
Intelligent Speed Assistance
technology a precursor to
connected and self-driving
vehicle revolution?
Matthias Seidl, head of
vehicle regulation for TRL,
thinks ISA systems are a
stepping stone to Connected
and Autonomous Vehicles
(CAVs).
He says, “Automated and
autonomous vehicles will
need to be able to reliably
identify the applicable speed
limit to perform a safe driving
function… ISA will push
manufacturers and Tier 1
suppliers to perfect the image
recognition algorithms for
the camera inputs and the
fusion algorithms to bring
together camera and mapbased
information, to achieve
this goal.”
Nick Reed, however, is more
circumspect. “It is small step
in that direction but still a very
important one,” he says.
“A successful ISA
implementation would give
drivers’ confidence that
automated systems can
add value in the sense that
some, but not all, of the
responsibilities of driving
can be safely delegated to
intelligent onboard electronics
systems,” he adds.
However, Reed warns that
the ISA system should never
be confused with automated
driving technology, as ISA
technology wholly depends on
the driver being fully attentive
and alert at all times.”
As Calum McPhail of Zurich
Insurance, adds, “I think the
technology represents more
of a progression than a
stepping stone.
“From an insurance
perspective, the litmus test
will be whether or not it can
reduce premiums for drivers –
especially those who are young
and have recently passed their
test. We already use telematics
as a way of monitoring driver
behavior, but a vehicle which
limits speed might be seen
as a much more acceptable
risk, and could make insurance
policies more affordable for
younger drivers.
“That’s represents the
bigger picture for us – not
another brick in the wall in the
development of self-driving
vehicles.”
EU hopes that the safety benefits will
be felt long before then. It thinks that
the technology can prevent 140,000
injuries by 2038.
If the technology does indeed
improve safety and reduce
fatalities – there were 25,000
deaths in the EU last year
– it could according to
Nick Reed, future
mobility expert and
independent
transport consultant
at Reed Mobility, also
help toreduce
congestion.
Reed, who was
formerly the Head of
Mobility for Bosch,
says, “In the long-term,
ISA technology will
improve traffic flow by
smoothing vehicle speeds.
Whilst this technology won’t
solve congestion, we know from
traffic simulation studies that only
a small proportion of drivers need to
be using the technology (around 5%)
for motorists to experience the
benefits of more even flow and
increased capacity on road
networks.”
Only a small proportion of drivers
need to be using the technology
(around 5%) for motorists to experience
the benefits of more even flow and
increased capacity on road networks
Nick Reed, founder, Reed Mobility
Above: ISA could
improve road safety
and help reduce
congestion
Right: ISA systems
could prove useful in
AV development
| Speed Management
Safety first?
However, there are some question
marks around speed reduction
technology. Jack Cousens, the AA’s
head of roads policy says that there
are occasions when ‘a little speed’ can
actually help to promote safety.
He explains, “It’s possible that
a driver might misjudge the speed
of traffic when overtaking or joining
a busy A-road or motorway.
Therefore, a temporary element of
speed can be a good thing. There
were concerns that drivers might not
be able to override to ISA systems to
achieve this small burst of acceleration.
But the regulations clearly state that
driver will be able to do so.”
Reed, who understands the
technology more than most,
recognizes this perspective. At
the UK’s Transport Research
Laboratory (TRL), where he was
academy director for nearly three
years, Reed studied the dangers of
close following or tailgating, which
is a common cause of road crashes
in the UK.
Participants in the study were
asked to drive to the rules of the
road, and then to drive as they would
naturally. The results revealed that
drivers were far more likely to be
tailgated when following the rules of
the road. The study also highlighted
the fact that while it’s neither
advisable nor legal to tailgate, in realworld
driving conditions, it’s also
understandable that motorists may
increase speed to avoid this situation.
Reed explains, “While the study
only included a small sample of
drivers, it was clear that motorists
keeping to the speed limit were
anxious due to others following too
September/October 2019 Traffic Technology International
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