Road and highway safety in Europe today
The protection and safety of passengers and drivers of vehicles, as well as road users, is a matter of concern for the European Union. In recent years, advances in vehicle safety have contributed to an overall reduction in the number of road accidents. However, according to the European Union, more than 25,000 people were killed on European roads in 2017 and there were 135,000 seriously injured, a figure that has remained constant over the past four years.
What steps is the EU taking to improve road and highway safety?
The EU is trying to do everything possible to reduce or eliminate road accidents. In addition to existing safety measures to protect vehicle occupants, specific measures are needed to prevent deaths and injuries to road users such as cyclists and pedestrians. Without new initiatives on road safety in general, the current safety approach is no longer sufficient to offset the effects of increased traffic volume. Therefore, the level of vehicle safety must continue to be improved as part of an overall approach to road safety, in order to strengthen the protection of road users on roads and public roads.
European Union launches regulation 2019/2144
On November 27, 2019, the European Union launched Regulation 2019/2144, which aims to "update the type-approval requirements for motor vehicles, as well as for systems, components and separate technical units dedicated to these vehicles, with regard to their general safety and the protection of vehicle occupants and vulnerable road users." In addition to safety measures to protect occupants inside the vehicle, the European Union has addressed the issue from a point of view that includes safety for people inside and outside vehicles. In this sense, it seeks to ensure the safety of passengers and drivers, as well as pedestrians and cyclists.
Watch our Webinar on Regulation 2019/2144
What should I include in my vehicle?
According to regulation 2019/2144, in order for a vehicle to be marketed in the European Union as of 2022, it must include, among others, the following systems:
- Breathalyzer
- Emergency braking signal
- Intelligent speed assistant
- Emergency lane keeping system
- Event logger
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Driver status system
- Blind spot detection
- Advanced distraction recognition
- Reversing detector
Some key dates to keep in mind
Looking at the timeline relating to Regulation 2019/2144 we find the following key dates:
- In 2013, there was already a first attempt to make emergency braking systems mandatory for trucks and buses. However, due to the aftermath of the financial crisis in 2007, many projects were put on hold.
- In 2019, the directive was approved, ratifying the intention to implement these safety systems in vehicles.
- As of 2022, vehicles must have the safety systems mentioned above in order to be homologated.
- 2024 will be the deadline for vehicles already on sale or available to the user to adapt and incorporate these safety systems. In 2024, even vehicles homologated before July 2022 will also have to be equipped.
- Additional security systems will be implemented by 2026.
According to the above dates, we can see how safety systems will start to become mandatory, so the trend will be to see more and more vehicles equipped with this type of solutions. We will also see how all new vehicles will incorporate them in the short term.
What types of systems are available?
DSM systems help to avoid accidents due to distraction or drowsiness
DSM, or Driver State Detection, is a new camera-based system for monitoring driver alertness, which not only recognizes the driver, but also verifies the driver's level of alertness. The purpose of the driver monitoring system is to alert the driver when signs of drowsiness or distraction are detected. Other applications for the system are also possible, such as driver identification and eye-monitoring functions. These developments will contribute to greater safety and a more intuitive use of the new generation of driver assistance functions.
BSD systems detect pedestrians, bicyclists and other moving objects in real time
The Blind Spot Detection (BSD) system detects in real time pedestrians, cyclists and other moving objects within areas not visible to the driver and at higher risk of accidents, by means of infrared sensors with advanced artificial intelligence both day and night. The BSD system identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorists in a hazardous driving situation, helping the driver to make safe decisions.
The ADASADAS systems, advanced driver assistance
ADAS systems have become a very present element in today's vehicles. The benefits offered by the combination of radars, cameras and sensors in our vehicles translate into a drastic reduction in the number of accidents and collisions, as they help to prevent distractions, involuntary lane changes or to eliminate blind spots, to mention a few examples.
As we can see, these systems are here to stay, in view of the different regulations that encourage their integration in vehicles. At the same time, the evolution of technology will increasingly facilitate their integration in vehicle fleets.
