Australian Researchers Tout Speed-Dampening Technology

Australian researchers link Intelligent Speed Adaptation devices to safer roads and cost savings.

The University of Adelaide’s Center for Automotive Safety Research sought to measure the savings from use of the devices by state government.

Crash test simulates adult head impacting vehicle windshield

A recent trial showed ISA potentially could eliminate 171 injury crashes in government fleets annually, saving A$31.6 million ($33.9 million) in related costs.

Researchers analyzed four ISA devices currently available. They determined navigational-aid systems that include ISA functionality had a payback period of about a year, making them the most cost-effective.

ISA refers to many different types of devices designed to prevent speeding. They can be divided into three categories: advisory, supportive and limiting.

Advisory devices use audio and visual signals to communicate to the driver that he or she is exceeding the speed limit. The driver is not obliged to slow to the speed limit.

Supportive devices prevent a vehicle from breaking the speed limit by stiffening the accelerator pedal, cutting fuel supply, electronically manipulating the throttle, applying the brakes or a combination of these methods. Supportive devices allow this control to be overridden.

A limiting device works in the same way as a supportive device except the driver cannot override it.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries says governments bought 6.3% of the 1,035,574 vehicles sold in Australia in 2010.

“Governments requiring certain (safety) features in their vehicles can also speed up the introduction of these features as standard features sold to the public,” the university researchers say.

“Government fleets may therefore have an important role to play in expanding the use of ISA in Australia.”