All cars in the European Union will soon be outfitted with artificial intelligence technology that will limit the speed that a person can drive, according to new rules in the EU.
In some instances, if a person is found to be driving too fast, the gadget would have the ability to slow the car down.
A law that was passed in the EU two years ago officially went into effect on July 7. All motorists must now have an Intelligent Speed Assistance system, or ISA, installed in their cars according to the new requirement.
The ISA systems use GPS data, on-board cameras and AI to analyze how fast someone is driving in real-time as they’re behind the wheel. If a driver is determined to be going faster than the posted speed limit — as determined by the system — it can then take over an intervene.
Just like other GPS map programs, the ISA system is able to use road markings to figure out what the posted speed limit is on a road. Then, it uses on-board technology to determine how fast the driver is actually going and compares it to that posted speed limit.
Companies that install the ISA systems can have the system do three different things at this point in time. Each of the interventions could have a different level of response.
The first intervention is typically a warning message that will be displayed and sounded so the driver can know that they are going above the speed limit.
After that, the supportive ISA can kick in. This involves the system putting upward force on the gas pedal, which would make it more difficult for drivers to go faster.
The final intervention level involves the ISA system kicking in and slowing down the car, regardless of whether the driver wants to do that or not. The system will do this until the vehicle goes back under the posted speed limit on the road they’re driving on.
Officials have said that for safety reasons, this slowing down would be achieved by shutting off either part of the entire engine temporarily. This will ensure that the brakes aren’t suddenly slammed on, which could cause injuries in the car or other accidents on the road.
All member states of the EU now have to abide by this new law, though there is a loophole that exists for some.
The UK decided to opt out of the law, as part of their agreement with the EU after Brexit. This means that it’s not required by law for ISAs to be installed or used in vehicles that drive on roads in the UK.
Still, manufacturers will install the ISAs in all vehicles, since it would simply be too expensive and complicated for them to prepare different vehicles for the UK and EU markets.
UK drivers will have the option to turn the system off, though, or overriding it simply by pressing the accelerator.
