New speed limiter tools rolled out with UK cars affected - what you need to know
New Intelligent Speed Assistant (ISA) limiter technology will impact road users from July with as drivers need to be aware of major change.
Motorists could be caught out with the introduction of new Intelligent Speed Assistant limiters on UK roads.
The new technology is being fitted to vehicles across Europe as a result of a European Union driving law.
It is set to impact UK models with many manufacturers already installing some ISA tech into their vehicles.
Although expected to boost road safety, many drivers may be unaware of the new development and how it could impact them.
Express.co.uk answers the big questions with the new tools hitting new cars sold this month.
What are Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) limiters?
Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) tools must be fitted to all cars sold in Europe from July 7.
Although the UK has left the EU, manufacturers are likely to roll out the tools to standardise production, with many top brands already having the tech installed.
ISA technology can range from a simple audio or visual warning to more direct software that can take control of vehicles when a speed limit is crossed.
ISA tools use local GPS data and front-facing camera technology to determine local restrictions.
This will then prompt a driver to slow down with some vehicles and even take action if the warning is ignored.
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Can the speed limiters be deactivated?
The tools can be manually deactivated by road users with a simple switch of a button or through the infotainment system.
But, many of the ISA tools are programmed to be automatically reactivated every time the ignition is switched on.
Could motorists be fined for turning off speed limiters?
British motorists could fall foul of the law if they turn off speed limiter devices introduced on UK roads, one legal expert has warned.
Ben Pepper, Senior Associate at Bolt Burdon Kemp, has warned future cases could “take into account” whether the new tools were turned off at the time of an incident.
He explained: “I would expect to see cases involving injuries and deaths caused by excessive speed in new vehicles take account of whether limiters were switched off too.”
Are ISA speed limiter tools safer?
An EU-funded study found that ISA technology on the roads could reduce fatalities by between 19 and 28 percent.
According to the European Commission, an earlier study in the Netherlands showed ISA tools could reduce the number of hospital admissions by 15 percent.
The report found that the number of deaths would fall by a whopping 21 percent if introduced.
The EU says the benefits are “generally larger on urban roads” and when “more intervening forms of ISA are applied”.
Ben added: "A third of road fatalities are caused by excessive speed, and the limiters should help reduce collisions. However, it will be possible to deactivate them, meaning it could have little impact on injuries and fatalities caused by speeding."