“It’s a sign of things to come,” he continued. “Increasingly, the car is going to decide what you can and can’t do.”
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, said: “Even though ISA isn’t mandatory in the UK, many new cars will be sold with this technology.
“However, it is only an advisory system, meaning it will beep and flash, but the driver retains control and can even switch it off. Drivers should remember that ISA is an assistance tool and that the ultimate way to moderate speed is through the driver’s right foot.”
Compulsory in NI
ISA is legally required to be fitted to new cars sold in Northern Ireland, thanks to the post-Brexit Northern Ireland protocol.
Yousif Al Ani, a principal engineer with automotive company Thatcham Research, said: “As ADAS [advanced driver assistance system] is increasingly fitted to cars, vehicle manufacturers will need to address concerns from drivers that these systems, such as emergency lane keeping systems, interfere with their driving experience.
“Striking a balance between safety, performance, and integration to create systems that cooperate with drivers is a real challenge for manufacturers.”
Sarah Smith, a director at insurance company Allianz, said that despite concerns about degrading drivers’ ability to control their vehicles themselves, the ISA tech could lead to a reduction in collisions.
“Our claims data shows that vehicles equipped with ADAS, such as sensors and lane assist technology, have fewer road accidents, and we support manufacturers in their continued focus on improving safety.”
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “Safety is the number one priority for car makers and, while the UK already has some of the world’s safest roads, the sector is always working to improve safety still further by developing and deploying new safety technologies.”