UK Speed Behavior Research Trials Beginning
IVsource.net
30 July 2003

In another chapter in evaluation and development of Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA), the UK Department for Transport has announced that new research trials have begun in Leeds which are looking at how 80 drivers behave when their speeds are controlled.

In another chapter in evaluation and development of Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA), the UK Department for Transport has announced that new research trials have begun in Leeds which are looking at how 80 drivers behave when their speeds are controlled.

The research will examine how drivers' behavioraut changes when they drive specially modified vehicles that detect the speed limit for the road they are on -- and automatically keep the vehicle within those speed limits.  The trials will look at driver behavior with and without the speed limiters on.

As is typical for current-generation ISA, global positioning technology tells the car where it is, which allows it to deduce what the speed limit should be.  Each time the limit changes the driver is notified of the change, and the new limit is set. The accelerator pedal then vibrates when the car reaches the limit, alerting the driver.  The car will then stay at that speed unless the driver opts out of the system, brakes, or stops accelerating.

The driver can opt in or out of the system at any time by using buttons on the steering wheel, or over-ride it at any time by a kickdown on the accelerator.  The system can also be disabled at the touch of a button in an emergency.

In a DfT press release, David Jamieson, Road Safety Minister, said, “this trial will be useful for assessing how drivers respond when the car they are in actively tells them that they are being kept to the speed limit.  We will also be looking to see how drivers’ behaviour changes over time."

Because ISA is a hot issue with the public, and therefore politically sensitive, he continued by saying, “we’re not planning to make the use of speed limiting technology mandatory, but we’re keen to see what we can learn from this trial.  We know that speed kills and I look forward to seeing what findings this brings.”

An earlier research project suggested that if vehicles used an intelligent speed limiter with a driver select function, such as the one used in the trials, fatal accidents could be reduced by 19% and injury accidents by 10%.

The research is being carried out by Dr. Oliver Carsten at the University of Leeds and also MIRA (formerly the Motor Industry Research Association).  Twenty cars have been equipped with the system. Each will have a volunteer driver for six months. There will be four sets of trials; therefore 80 drivers.   The trials began in June.

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For More Information ...

... contact the DfT through their website: www.dft.gov.uk.

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