The Government has confirmed plans to introduce 18 mandatory vehicle safety technologies for new mass-produced vehicles entering the Great Britain market.
Following a public consultation, the Department for Transport will proceed with legislation incorporating the systems into the GB type approval scheme. The measures are intended to prevent collisions, reduce casualty severity and provide greater protection for vehicle occupants and vulnerable road users.
They will also bring Great Britain more closely into line with safety standards already operating in Northern Ireland and the European Union.
Which technologies will become mandatory?
The 18 mandatory vehicle safety technologies will cover different vehicle categories and include:
- Advanced emergency braking
- Blind spot information systems
- Driver drowsiness and attention warnings
- Driver distraction warnings
- Emergency lane-keeping assistance
- Intelligent speed assistance
- Reversing detection technology
- Event data recorders
The consultation received 231 responses. According to the Government, support for the individual technologies ranged from 66.1% to 82.4%.
Respondents also raised practical considerations including system performance, costs, maintenance and how drivers interact with the technology.
What does this mean for driver and rider trainers?
As these systems become more common, trainers will have an increasingly important role in helping learners understand what vehicle safety technology can and cannot do.
Advanced driver assistance systems can support safer driving, but they do not remove the driver’s responsibility to remain alert, observe effectively and retain control. Learners should understand when systems are operating, how warnings are communicated and how features may respond in different road and weather conditions.
This is particularly relevant when pupils learn in one vehicle but may take their test or drive independently in another with different technology.
Trainers may wish to incorporate discussions about advanced driver assistance systems into lessons covering speed choice, following distance, lane discipline, observation and vulnerable road users.
Alcohol interlock interface excluded
The Government will not mandate an alcohol interlock installation interface at this stage.
The interface would make it easier to install an alcohol interlock, but would not prevent drink-driving without a separate device. Ministers concluded that requiring the interface alone would provide limited benefits because Great Britain does not currently have a wider policy framework for using alcohol interlocks.
The technology will remain under review as future drink-driving policy develops.
Phased introduction planned
The Government will now prepare the necessary legislation. New vehicle types will be required to comply 12 months after the legislation comes into force, extending the six-month period originally proposed.
Requirements are then expected to be introduced for all newly registered vehicles falling within the regulations. The transitional arrangements are intended to give manufacturers sufficient time to prepare.
