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On a Saturday afternoon in January 2022 , a 2018 Dodge Challenger run through a stop sign in Las Vegas , pluck up the tread to a speed of 103 miles per hour and vanish through an intersection on a violent brightness . The Dodge run into the right side of a Toyota Sienna minivan , which carried seven occupants , causing four more vehicle to crash . The equipment driver and rider of the Dodge , as well as every passenger in the minivan , died .

The National Transportation Safety Board , a U.S. authorities authority that investigates such chance event , foundthat in this scenario and many others like it , a engineering that limits the f number of vehicles could have mitigated the plate of this calamity . The number one wood , who was found to have cocaine and PCP in his organisation which impaired his decision - making , had a record for break the speed limit .

The NTSB resolve that intelligent speed - assist engineering ( ISA ) should be received equipment in all new vehicles to keep needless end . It ’s no longer enough , the agency argues , to bank on states to deter driver speeding and recidivism . The agency , which does n’t have the business leader to make regulations , is bid on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ) tomandate the use of this technologygoing forrard .

“ This smash is the in vogue in a long line of business of tragedies we ’ve look into where speeding and damage lead to cataclysm , but it does n’t have to be this way , ” said NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy in a assertion . “ We know the key to saving life is redundance , which can protect all of us from human error that occurs on our route . What we lack is the corporate will to represent on NTSB safety recommendations . ”

An NHTSA spokesperson told TechCrunch that the agency welcome NTSB ’s input and carefully reviews it , especially when considering likely regulatory actions .

How it works

ISA technology relies on a car ’s Global Positioning System location and matches it to a database of posted hurrying limits and onboard cameras to come up with the sound speed limit . Passive ISA systems discourage a number one wood when the fomite exceeds the speed limit through sound , visuals or haptic alerts , leaving the driver creditworthy for slowing the car . Active systems might make it more difficult to increase the speeding of a vehicle , or even fully throttle it from going , above a posted speed terminus ad quem .

Some Americans might chafe at the melodic theme of an dynamic ISA system of rules that confine their exemption of bm . Limiting any freedom hits at the core of the American libertarian psyche and could be perceived as political science overreach . American often have a general distrust of government hindrance and regulation , and might arrogate that limiting speeds is just the beginning . Some may even argue that ISA applied science could hinder a quick getaway during an emergency brake position .

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From a technological standpoint , dissimilar sign designs and clock time - of - day amphetamine might make it difficult for ISA tech to be dependable .

That say , it ’s undeniable that speed is one of the leading causes of dealings - connect deaths . According to recent NHTSA datum , almost one - third of all traffic - interrelate deaths arethe direct result of speeding .

Europe first

In Europe , ISA engineering is already mandate for all new vehicle as of 2022 , harmonise to the European Commission’sVehicle General Safety Regulation(GSR ) , which requires vehicle to have 90 % truth for ISA organization . The GSR also include demand for mandatory advanced driver assistance system ( ADAS ) , including emergency automated braking systems and lane assistance technology .

Volvo late announced itsEX30 electric vehiclewithGoogle build - inwill have a inactive ISA engineering , make it eligible for GSR documentation . Google Built - in , which is also in marque like Chevrolet , Renault , Polestar and Honda , rely on Maps rather than just the car ’s cameras to get accurate speed limits . The Maps squad analyzes dealings trends , gathers local data and fussy - references street view or third - company married person information , accord to ablog postby Siddharth Shashidharan , a Google Maps intersection managing director .

Appealing to automakers

The NTSB has also recommended that NHTSA inquiry and develop guidelines to help states implement a original ISA program that would bound the fomite speed for repeat offenders . New York has done a pilot with such technology and isconsidering legislation .

Having a inactive ISA system in vehicles seems like a no - brainer , think the amount of ADAS going into novel cars today , much of which promises todrive your car for youin certain circumstances . lawmaker have also introduced , for example , legislationarounddriver monitoring systems , which can detect when a driver is tired , not give attention or under the influence and take action .

This story has been updated with a comment from NHTSA .