EU green light for intelligent cars

The European commission is set to back a new initiative to accelerate the take up of smarter, safer and cleaner vehicle technology.

Brussels will give its ‘intelligent car’ initiative the green light on Thursday during a launch event showcasing all the available new technologies.

The commission is keen to promote the drive towards intelligent car technology, which it argues is being taken up much too slowly.

“There is a problem of market implementation…it takes too long,” the commission’s Rosalie Zobel briefed journalists on Tuesday.

“There is a low penetration rate [for the new technology].  Antilock braking systems have taken 20 years [to become standard].”

Zobel revealed that fitting just three per cent of cars with autonomous cruise control technology that helps prevent rear end collisions could reduce accidents by 4000 per year by 2010.

And further ‘intelligent’ innovation, including technology to help drivers stay in their proper lane, or avoid falling asleep at the wheel will significantly reduce fatal accidents across the EU, says the commission.

“Intelligent cars can help solve our key road transport problems: safety, traffic congestion and energy consumption,” said EU information society and media chief, Viviane Reding.

But the commissioner is expected to warn that despite their potential, most intelligent systems are not yet on the market.

“And when they are launched, large scale take-up has taken a very long time”

“Action is needed to spread the benefits of these technologies,” Reding will say on Thursday, during the initiative’s launch.

Reding will steer a three pronged approach, aimed at coordinating and accelerating technology take up, boost R&D support within the EU’s seventh research framework programme, and build awareness of the technology to stimulate customer demand.

The official launch will take place on Thursday at the Brussels Auto world museum in the Cinquantenaire Park, from 10.30 onwards.

The event will showcase a number of the life saving intelligent technologies, including practical demonstrations, prototype cars and simulators.

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