Politiek draagvlak voor Intelligente Snelheidsaanpassing (ISA) : interviewstudie onder vertegenwoordigers van Nederlandse politieke partijen.

Many road safety experts regard Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) as a powerful instrument for regulating safe driving speeds and achieving more safety. In short, ISA ensures that, while it is in motion, the vehicle `receives' information about the speed limit that applies where it is. When driving too fast, ISA `reacts' by advising or warning the driver, or `automatically' lowering the speed. This is all made possible by the technology in the vehicle itself. With regard to national politics, no clear course has yet been set out as to the introduction of a type of ISA as a road safety measure. This brings us to the question of how politicians view ISA. SWOV studied the political support for an `ISA measure', by means of interviews with representatives of political parties (members of parliament and policy workers). The questions were divided into two aspects: 1. What is the political support for ISA at this moment? 2. What do politicians take into account when determining their position about ISA? Two rounds of interviews were held. The first round took place with experts, and its purpose was to compile a knowledge file on ISA that was later put before a number of political representatives. The second round of interviews was meant to explore the political support and was aimed at representatives of political parties. They took place with parliamentarians from seven of the nine parties in the lower house. Beforehand, a copy of the knowledge file was sent to them, in order to ensure that the interview would take place from a common frame of reference. In spite of a broad political interest in an `ISA measure', the interviewed politicians also had clear reservations. These reservations apply particularly to an obligatory introduction of ISA, and have to do with: a general limitation of personal freedom of choice of the motorist, the possible disturbances of the system's working because of its technical faults, fraud, and sabotage. It is not to be expected from the national political parties that political statements will be made to speed up ISA's introduction. There is, however, a positive attitude with regard to obtaining more information about the subject. Knowledge about costs and benefits of specific ISA variants, and concrete plans for ISA introduction in the Netherlands can be important incentives for a further political discussion about this subject.