Not a ‘Big Brother’ solution – IAM RoadSmart calls new laws on car and lorry safety systems a potential licence and life saver

IAM RoadSmart has welcomed moves to make autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and other safety systems standard on all new cars in three years, calling it an undoubted life-saver.

The UK’s biggest independent road safety charity responded to the announcement that new cars, vans, lorries and buses sold in Europe will be fitted with a range of new safety features as standard beginning as soon as 2022.

A provisional European Union deal on the legislation was reached on Monday night.

The rules include requirements for AEB which can detect and react to pedestrians and cyclists in front of the vehicle, as well as overridable intelligent speed assistance (ISA), to be fitted as standard for the first time ever. 

New lorries will be expected to have better levels of direct vision to give drivers a better chance of seeing vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research, said: “It should be remembered that excessive speeding is a factor in 14% of fatal crashes whereas human error is present in 64%. Speed limiters have a role to play but on their own cannot eliminate all crashes.

“Advanced drivers don’t need to be reminded electronically what the speed limit is, but for others it could be a real life-saver, and help people not lose their driving licences at the same time.

“ISA as proposed for all new cars after 2022 will be overrideable so it is not the ‘big brother’ solution that some sources suggest.

“IAM RoadSmart believe the EU package of measures is important for road safety. Drivers and fleets can lead the way by specifying options such as autonomous braking tomorrow.”

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IAM RoadSmart has a mission to make better drivers and riders in order to improve road safety, inspire confidence and make driving and riding enjoyable. It does this through a range of courses for all road users, from online assessments through to the advanced driving and riding tests. IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of all businesses operated by the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy. The organisation has 92,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses, from members of the public to company drivers, while our Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programmes.

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart commercial products and services visit the new website www.iamroadsmart.com/business                                                    

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart’s Driver Retraining Academy visit www.iamdra.org.uk                                             

To find out the name of your own local IAM RoadSmart group please visit: https://www.iamroadsmart.com/local-groups                            

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