The European Commission announced that it had reached a temporary political agreement with the European Parliament and the European Council to impose more new safety technologies on new vehicles from 2022.
According to the revised General Safety Ordinance, all passenger cars, light commercial vehicles (LCVs), trucks and buses are equipped with systems to warn drivers of drowsiness and distraction, including identification and prevention of distraction, and alcohol interlocking devices are installed to prevent drunk driving. In addition, reversing safety system, emergency stop signal system and event data recorder through sensors or cameras will be introduced. In addition, it is planned to install an intelligent speed assist system to prevent drivers from exceeding the specified speed limit on the road.
The order also requires vehicles and light commercial vehicles to be equipped with lane keeping assistance system as standard, and requires advanced emergency braking system and improved seat belt system by introducing full width front passenger anti-collision test. These vehicles will also be equipped with pole side occupant protection and pedestrian and rider head impact zone protection systems. In addition, the command also makes special requirements for trucks and buses to improve the safety of vulnerable road users by improving the vision of the cab and eliminating blind spots, and install a system to detect and warn people in front and on the side of the vehicle (especially when turning). In addition, all commercial vehicles must be equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system.
However, the European Commission pointed out that although the new safety technology plan will be enforced from 2022, these provisions will be implemented later due to necessary vehicle structural design changes to improve the visible field of vision of trucks and buses and the protection of head impact areas of cars and trucks.
At the time of the announcement, the European Commission Commissioner for internal markets, industry, entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises El? Bieta Bie ń Kowska said: “25000 people lose their lives on European roads every year. The vast majority of accidents are caused by human errors. We can and must take action to change this situation. As new advanced safety features become mandatory, we can have the same positive impact as when seat belts were first introduced. Many of these new features have been applied, especially in Europe On high-end vehicles. Now we comprehensively improve the safety technology level of vehicles, which will pave the way for the development of networked vehicles and automatic driving in the future. ”
In addition, according to European Automotive News, the European Commission has adjusted the rules related to the wltp test system to prevent possible loopholes from being exploited by automobile manufacturers. This adjustment was launched in February this year, requiring automobile manufacturers to turn on all energy-saving technologies in the test and use the same driver selection mode for each test model. Lobbying groups “Transport and environment” (T & E) said that before the launch of wltp test procedures on September 1 last year, the European Commission found that automobile manufacturers use some emission increasing functions, which may be used to weaken future emission reduction targets.
The move was welcomed by the European Association of automobile manufacturers (ACEA), which told ane in a statement that the adjustment of relevant rules makes the wltp test procedure “more robust and can prevent any operation test behavior.”
The purpose of the EU’s mandatory installation of some of the latest safety technologies is to reduce the death and injury accidents of drivers, passengers, pedestrians and riders on European roads. This is the EU’s general safety regulations and pedestrian protection regulations As part of a broader review. The two regulations consulted stakeholders in 2017 on measures to improve current vehicle safety and were implemented in May 2018. Earlier, the EU reached an agreement in February on improving the efficiency of safety management of road infrastructure.
Many safety technologies required as standard for vehicles focus on human factors in accidents; the European Commission said that 90% of road traffic accidents are caused by human errors. The European Commission also said that the introduction of these safety functions “will help drivers gradually adapt to the new driving assistance system” , which will pave the way for the further introduction of autonomous driving in cars in the future, “The increasing degree of automation has great potential in compensating for human errors and provides new mobile travel solutions for the elderly and physically handicapped. All these functions will enhance public trust and acceptance of self driving vehicles, which will support the transition from assisted driving to automatic driving.”
One of the most controversial initiatives is the introduction of intelligent speed assist system to maintain the vehicle’s speed limit by limiting engine power (although it is reported that the system can be covered by means) . although it is undoubtedly a good thing to limit the speed to the upper limit of road speed in some cases, in the author’s opinion, these systems are not foolproof at present. In addition, it also assumes that drivers will be fully aware of the risks caused by exceeding the speed limit, rather than relying on this system. This may become a problem in bad weather and some speed limited national highways.
Post time: Sep-23-2021