| With a six-month test of intelligent speed adaptation | | | | events and inclement weather. |
| (ISA) in London underway this summer, this new | | | | Optical recognition - This technology uses roadside |
| automotive technology is getting plenty of press. The | | | | signs to broadcast speed limit data to a car. As a |
| test began as a way to prevent government-owned | | | | driver passes a sign, the information is received and |
| vehicles from speeding, thereby promoting safe driving | | | | compared with the vehicle's current speed. The speed |
| and a host of other benefits. | | | | would remain in effect until the car passes a new sign. |
| For example, according to several studies, using this | | | | Because the system does not work without the |
| technology could reduce the number of car accidents | | | | roadside signs, optical recognition can be problematic in |
| by as much as 25 percent. In fact, the UK External | | | | areas where large distances exist between signs. |
| Vehicle Speed Control (EVSC) project estimates that | | | | Dead reckoning - To use dead reckoning, a car must |
| auto accident related fatalities could be reduced by as | | | | begin its journey at a predetermined location. As the |
| much as 59 percent, too. | | | | car drives, dead reckoning uses mathematical |
| Developed in France in 1982, intelligent speed | | | | calculations based on the rotation of the wheels, angle |
| adaptation is a term better recognized in Europe, | | | | of the steering wheel and other data gathered by |
| where several tests and studies have been | | | | special sensors to discover its current location. Then it |
| conducted. If you are not already familiar with intelligent | | | | compares the speed limit in the current location against |
| speed adaptation, take a few moments to learn what | | | | the speed of the car. |
| it is, as well as how works, and the pros and cons of | | | | Criticism of intelligent speed adaptation |
| imposing widespread use. | | | | Of course, the first barrier to adoption of intelligent |
| What is intelligent speed adaptation? | | | | speed adaptation is human. Rules like these often |
| ISA constantly checks and compares a vehicle's | | | | alienate the public. Feelings aside, however, there are |
| speed to the legal limit. When a driver exceeds the | | | | two primary flaws with intelligent speed adaptation that |
| speed limit, the device takes either a passive action, | | | | prevents a barrier to widespread use. The first are |
| such as sending a warning to the driver, or an active | | | | problems properly determining a driver's location. For |
| one, like automatically slowing the car to the legal limit. | | | | example, GPS-based intelligent speed adaptation will |
| Some intelligent speed adaptation systems have an | | | | not work when drivers are in underground tunnels. In |
| override device. Those that do not are considered | | | | addition, tall buildings, trees and cloud coverage can |
| mandatory. Ideally, ISA can identify when drivers enter | | | | interfere and weaken the signal. |
| a new speed zone, even those that are temporary | | | | The human factor is the other flaw with intelligent |
| (because of an accident, special event or construction) | | | | speed adaptation. For example, studies show that |
| or variable depending on the time of day, like school | | | | drivers with ISA drive more aggressively. First, they |
| zones. | | | | leave less stopping distance between cars. In addition, |
| How does intelligent speed adaptation work? | | | | these drivers often maintain a higher rate of speed, |
| GPS is the most common technology used to power | | | | rather than slowing down in areas they did before the |
| ISA systems. Satellites are used to triangulate a | | | | intelligent speed adaptation was added to their car. |
| driver's position and speed. The ISA compares the | | | | Therefore, critics suggest that focusing on automation |
| data to a digital map that contains data about local | | | | that aids driver technique, rather than forces them to |
| speed limits, including information around variable speed | | | | behave in a certain way, will be more effective. |
| zones. Because real-time updates can be made, it has | | | | Benefits of intelligent speed adaptation |
| the ability to adjust on the fly. Other types of | | | | Of course, the largest benefit of intelligent speed |
| technology used for intelligent speed adaptation include: | | | | adaptation is a drop in the amount, as well as the |
| Radio beacons - A receiver inside the car picks up | | | | severity, of motor vehicle accidents. Ideally, this |
| data broadcast by roadside radio beacons. These | | | | correlates into fewer fatalities, as well as lowers the |
| beacons can provide information about local speed | | | | cost associated with repairs and medical treatment. |
| limits, as well as any variable and temporary changes | | | | Theoretically, this should lower the cost of car |
| to the limits. Beacons would need to link to a | | | | insurance, too. How this new technology could be |
| mainframe computer to promote real-time updates, | | | | imposed is still being determined, but one theory is that |
| and placed regularly along routes to calculate speed | | | | you could receive a discount on your car insurance |
| properly. To override signals from fixed beacons, | | | | premium by having it installed. |
| mobile beacons could be used during accident, special | | | | |