A Study Based in New Zealand Offers Lessons Learned About In-Vehicle Technologies.
New Zealand
Use of in-vehicle technologies to assist with and encourage safe and efficient driving behaviour
Summary Information
In-vehicle technologies facilitating safer and more efficient driving are becoming increasingly available. The goal for this study was to understand which technologies would provide the greatest safety and efficiency benefits in the New Zealand context, and how best to achieve increased adoption of these technologies. Several in-vehicle technologies were considered in this study, such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA), Alcohol Interlock System (AIS), Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning (DDAW), Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW), and Lane Departure Warning (LDW). The study examined the link between these in-vehicle technologies to safety and efficiency improvements and estimated the extent to which such technologies were likely to deliver cost-effective improvements using data analysis and stakeholder interviews and workshop.
- Instill required skillset for proper maintenance of in-vehicle technologies. This could be achieved by agencies and government officials by engaging with relevant bodies to ensure the repair and maintenance skills for advanced driver assistance technologies are being taught in automotive courses, and by considering a warrant-of-fitness test (inspection of safety and roadworthiness) for safety-critical technologies.
- Raise awareness on in-vehicle technologies. It is important to promote the existing sources of information on in-vehicle technologies, providing clear information on the costs and benefits of each technology.
- Provide incentives for use of in-vehicle technologies. This study emphasized how governments could encourage faster turnover of old private and commercial vehicles and purchase of newer used ones through incentives such as tax breaks.
- Consider mandating the in-vehicle technologies. This could be done for both new and used imports of private vehicles, as well as commercial vehicles once high enough prevalence rates are reached for these technologies.
- Seek strength in numbers. Transportation agencies could encourage and support bulk buying of commercial vehicles for fleets equipped with in-vehicle technologies, to achieve discounts, and help increase popularity of these technologies.
