Road safety: Europe wants to raise IQ of cars for safer roads

Oh no, another regulation by the European government. Without a doubt we should increase the road safety, but can we really handle it with another regulation from Brussels? I don't think so.

The European Commission (EC) put its weight behind high-tech ways to improve auto safety in launching its Intelligent Car Initiative, although it is more lip service than actual investment since the EC is giving very little money to manufacturers to pay for the project.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the EC has published results of a study showing that 4,000 accidents per year could be prevented in Europe if just 3 percent of cars on European roads had high-tech accident prevention technology. Among the solutions would be laser systems that can sense road obstacles and ensure adequate braking to avoid accidents, as well as traffic warning and awakeness-alert systems in cars, the EC said.

However, the paper notes that the EC is giving little money to manufacturers to help them incorporate the high-tech safety features; instead, the commission is trying to "raise awareness" in the hope that "consumer demand will be stimulated."

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, Road safety

Source: Inside Line

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