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External vehicle speed control (EVSC)

Sponsoring partner: Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions

1998-2000

EVSC is a system that depending on road or traffic conditions intelligently limits the maximum achievable speed of the vehicle. The project studied the design of the system, investigating user acceptance, predicting the savings in accidents from various types of implementation, and looking at side effects in the form of fuel consumption, emissions and the efficiency of the road network. Driver behaviour with various forms of speed-limiter (advisory, voluntary and compulsory) was studied both in the laboratory (using the LADS) and on real roads with a specially equipped vehicle. The project examined design concepts, studied public acceptance and made predictions on benefits (savings in accidents) and costs. Recommendations were made on how automatic speed control could be implemented nationally, and on the possible approaches and timetables for implementation, should the decision be made to proceed with national deployment.