MEPs adopted legislation that will oblige car manufacturers to install safety enhancing systems in new vehicles from May 2022. These include emergency braking systems and intelligent speed assistance. In the case of trucks, they will have to be designed and constructed to make cyclists and pedestrians more visible to the driver.
The improvement of the so-called “direct vision” for truck and bus drivers is to be further enhanced by advanced functions. Their task will be to reduce as much as possible the blind spot in front of the driver’s seat and to significantly reduce blind spots from the side windows.
Direct vision technology should be used from November 2025 for new models and from November 2028 for existing models,” reads the communication on the website of the European Parliament.
For passenger cars, most technologies and systems will have to be fitted to new models from May 2022 and to existing models from May 2024.
In addition to the advanced Intelligent Speed Assistance and Emergency Braking systems already mentioned, the following solutions are to be installed in cars:
– warning of a reduction in the level of attention or sleepiness of the driver,
– detecting objects when reversing,
– for easy installation of the alcohol interlock,
– emergency stop signal,
– the logger of the data at the time of the accident.
According to estimates quoted by the EP, the ISA may reduce the number of fatalities on EU roads by 20%.
ISA will provide feedback to the driver, based on maps and traffic signs, whenever the speed limit has been exceeded. We are not introducing a speed limiter, but an intelligent system that will make drivers fully aware of when they will exceed the speed limit. This will not only make us all safer, but will also help drivers to avoid fines,” said Róża Thun, MEP, who led the legislative work in Parliament.
Once approved by the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union is to approve the regulation introducing the new provisions.
Photo: Daimler
