New EU driving law to launch in the UK could lead to more ‘motorists zoning out’

A new driving law is expected to launch across Europe from next year with the UK set to follow.

Intelligent Speed Assistant (ISA), limiters could be released starting in July 2022, despite the UK having left the European Union.

This technology detects legal limits using sign recognition cameras and GPS tools.

To warn drivers to slow down, audio and visual warnings are sent to them.

You can turn the tool off completely, or you can use the accelerator to override it when it first launches.

Donna Jones was the recently elected Police and Crime Commissioner of Hampshire. She raised concerns about this new technology.

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She warned the new tool will mean drivers’ “minds will wander” which could create more risk on the roads.

The commissioner also demanded the UK does “not blindly follow EU rules” and urged officials to instead take a new approach.

Donna added: “Speed contributes to fatalities on the road, but so do drivers not paying attention.

“Limiting everyone to the same speed will in practice mean that many drivers just sit with their foot to the floor all the time, with their vehicle’s speed going up and down automatically.”

She continued: “Their minds drift when there is not much to do. It is part of human nature.

“We risk creating a generation of zombie drivers who do not pay attention to the road and that could mean more accidents, not less.

“Now that we know the rules, we shouldn’t blindly follow them.

“At a minimum, we should wait and see how the experiment works out in the EU and then make a decision based on facts rather than just good intentions.”

However, it was recently revealed the law could see the speed limiter tech installed to “end fines”.

From 2022, all new cars in the EU will have to comply with speed limits. This will make it more difficult for drivers who break these rules.

Confused.com stated that the tech could also be more beneficial for the environment, as CO2 emissions may decrease.

Some companies have developed their own speed limiter tools in advance of the 2022 rule.