Intelligent car technology take-up too slow, says Transport Committee

Rapporteur Zita Gurmai (PES, HU) notes that Intelligent Vehicle Systems could substantially reduce the annual death toll on European roads - currently 41,600 as well as alleviating or remedying congestion, environmental and public health problems.

 

 

But so far, penetration rates for intelligent car systems and applications remain very low  in relation to their potential, says the committee. Many consumers cannot afford the new systems, so they need to get cheaper as soon as possible. Members also called for better public information about intelligent cars. Car dealers should play a key role in here, as well as TV and the internet. MEPs called on the Commission to focus its efforts on countries where the availability of intelligent systems is still very low.

 

 

The committee backs plans to roll out the pan-European emergency call system eCall by 2010. In the event of an accident, this system alerts the emergency services automatically, providing the exact location of the vehicle. If fully deployed across the EU, eCall technology, combined with the 112 emergency number, could save up to 2,500 lives a year.

 

The report calls on the 14 Member States that have yet to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the system's introduction to do so by mid-2008. The Commission is also asked to further develop the regulatory framework for the full harmonisation of 112 emergency call standards and for EU-wide eCall technology using 112.

 

 

The committee also advocated accelerating the introduction of  Electronic Stability Control (ESC),  which reduces the danger of skidding. It is believed that 4,000 lives could be saved annually, and 100,000 crashes avoided if all cars had ESC. The Committee fully supported the goal of achieving 100% availability of ESC for the model year 2012.

 

 

MEPs also asked the European Commission to develop a methodology for measuring the impact of Information and communication technologies (ICTs) on CO₂ emissions, arguing that this could help to cut fuel consumption and emissions. Adaptive Cruise Control, which adapts the speed of a car to surrounding traffic, could lead to a 3% overall reduction, they say.

 

 

Members noted that the use and availability of portable or nomadic devices had increased and called on stakeholders to work on ways to ensure that such devices neither distract the driver nor prove dangerous in an accident.

 

 

Finally, MEPs warned that the greater sense of safety promoted by this technology may encourage drivers to take less responsibility, and stressed the primary importance of proper training for drivers.