SpeedAlert Consultation Group Workshop 1 4 October 2004 – Brussels“Challenges in implementing a Speed Limit Information Infrastructure”

The road users’ point of view

Rita CuypersHead of Road SafetyFIA Foundation for the Automobile and Society

Survey conducted by MORI

Study conducted in the UK

Face to face interviews with 1,442 adults from car-using households

Conducted between 22-28 August 2002

Examined acceptance of safety devices in residential areas and

on roads and motorways

Presented at the joint FIA Foundation-ERTICO conference ‘e-mobility: towards intelligent transport’ in London, 2002

Safety Devices in Residential AreasSafety Devices in Residential Areas

Q Thinking about safety devices that might be fitted to all new cars in the future, to what extent would you support or oppose…..to prevent the car exceeding the 30 mph speed limit

29%

41%

Strongly Support

Tend to Support

...Audible Warning or Dashboard Display

9%

13%

7%1%

Neither/Nor

D/K

Tend to Oppose

StronglyOppose

27%

34%

A Physical Speed Limiter

8%

18%

11%2%

Safety Devices in Main Roads & MotorwaysSafety Devices in Main Roads & Motorways

Base: All with cars in the household (749) answering this version

Q Thinking about safety devices that might be fitted to all new cars in the future, to what extent would you support or oppose…..to prevent the car exceeding the speed limit on main roads and motorways

35%

Strongly support

Tend to support

39%

Audible Warning or Dashboard Display

10%

9%

5%2%

Neither/nor

Don’t know

Tend to oppose

Stronglyoppose

Physical Speed Limiter

13%

20%

10%2%

29%

26%

70

6129

20

Safety Devices - OverviewSafety Devices - Overview

Audible Warning

% Support% Oppose

Speed Limiter

Residential Areas…..

74

5531

14Audible Warning

Speed Limiter

Main Roads…..

Base: All with cars in the household (residential 693, built up 749)

32%

16%46%

17%37%

26%14%

48%

14%50%

33%29%

Speed Limiter

+43%+56%

+63%+39%

+55%+36%

+55%+65%

+33%

+48%+53%

+50%All

Female

Male

25-34

ABC1

35-44

45-54

55+

C2DE

Urban

Rural

Audible Warning

Net support

15-24

Safety device in residential areas - profileSafety device in residential areas - profile

Safety Devices on Residential/Main Roads - Profile

Main Roads

+29%+33%

+50%+14%

+48%+14%

+26%+37%

+17%

+46%+16%

+32%

Speed Limiter

Net support

Base: All with cars in the household (residential 693, built up 749)

Main Roads

+43%+56%

+39%

+55%+36%

+55%+65%

+33%

+48%+53%

+50%

+63%

All

Female

Male

25-34

ABC1

35-44

45-54

55+

C2DE

Urban

Rural

Audible Warning

15-24

Speed management to avoid a ticket

• The MORI survey and speed management trial projects in countries such as Sweden and The Netherlands have shown that people are in general receptive to managing their speed.

•The ISA project in Tilburg in The Netherlands even went beyond advisory and voluntary systems and tested a mandatory system.

• In 2004 a French survey was held on the road safety behaviour of the drivers (speed, alcohol, seatbelts, use of mobile phones). Themost common argument for speeding was that one was not aware of going too fast. Respondents said that they had changed their behaviour because of increased enforcement, but two in three said that they were prepared to have speed management systems installed.

How acceptable are Speed Alert systems

• In principle, the objectives and concepts of the proposed speed alert systems are attractive:

• SpeedAlert systems are advisory and provide information• Fitting and use of speed alert system are voluntary• Raise awareness of the driver with regard to maximum and appropriate speed• They can reduce the need for speed enforcement • More friendly than physical obstacles such as speed humps• Can contribute to reducing speeding and speed-related traffic accidents and improve road safety• Especially helpful in built-up areas, especially where cars and vulnerable road users mix.

The Big Brother fear

• The issue of driver control of the vehicle

• Possible resistance to intrusive systems

• System should not be a substitute for speed enforcement

• Protection of private data

Important how system is introduced

• Public will expect a genuinely intelligent system - with accurate digital road maps, flawless technology and smooth transition between speed limits, easy to operate

• especially challenging in terms of the system being able to provide - variable, dynamic or temporary speed limits - info about adverse infrastructure or weather conditions - and this all over Europe

• Information and education required: - Public must be informed of speed limits, static and dynamic- Some drivers may over rely on speed alert system or be

diverted from their driving task.

Legal aspects

Article 13 of the Vienna Convention of 1968:“Every driver of a vehicle shall in all circumstances have his vehicle under control so as to be able to exercise due and proper care and to be at all times in a position to perform all manoeuvres required of him.”

What happens if the system fails and a car crash occurs ? Will the driver always make the right decision or have the right interpretation on the basis of the information given ?

How would this affect accident liability ?