An important part within developments in the field of telematics is Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA). Especially in Sweden, where the policy objective is to have zero fatalities or seriously injured victims on the road in 2020, research has been conducted on ISA during the last 10 years. In the Netherlands an experiment is planned in a new district of the city of Tilburg. Intelligent Speed Adaption (ISA) can be done in several ways: (a) the driver is provided continuously with information about local speed limits; (b) the driver is warned when speeding by sound or light signals; and (c) the system reacts automatically to make speeding impossible (through counterpressure of the accelerator or reduction in fuel supply). There are different ways in which information about local speed limits can be obtained: (i) by manual adjustment of a maximum level by the driver; (ii) by a signal to the vehicle, from a beacon along the road driven on; and (iii) an autonomous system in which the road network and relevant speed limit data is stored in the vehicle and in which the vehicle is located by a Global Positioning System (GPS). It is therefore known at every moment where the vehicle is, and what speed limit is. Current dat can be transmitted to the vehicle, so that a lower speed limit is installed as soon as, for example, there are road works ahead or poor weather conditions. In some new cars, especially the more expensive brands, a maximum speed can be manually adjusted. A warning signal is given when this speed is exceeded. Some systems even make braking the adjusted speed limit impossible because the fuel supply is automatically cut off. An important question is the extent to which ISA is accepted by the driver. From Swedish research it is known that after experiencing ISA's obligatory speed reduction, the acceptance is greater than beforehand. When car drivers have the choice between an ISA system and speed control humps (and other infrastructural measures), they choose for ISA. In general, a warning system is preferred above a system limiting speed. The acceptance is greater when the problem situations are recognizable: in residential areas, on roads where fast and slow traffic are not separated, at the approach of complex intersections, at road works, and during bad weather conditions, etc. ISA also influences driver behaviour. The effects found are: average speed reduced by a few km/h, driving at a constant speed, increase in travel time by 9%, and increased alertness towards other road users. In Sweden preparations are being made for large scale experiments in several towns, where the beacons as well as autonomous system will be tested. For the Tilburg experiment SWOV has made the research design. How exactly the experiment will be conducted is not yet known. Testing a mixed system - both beacons and autonomous - appears to be desirable. The advantage is that mobile beacons can be used under changing conditions such as road works. Regulations on ISA should be international. That is why research and testing should be conducted in an international framework. On the short term it is expected that more and more new cars will be equipped with a manual speeding warning and also systems in which a voluntary manual speed limit cannot be exceeded. The navigation systems that can be bought nowadays use a CD-ROM and a Global Positioning System (GPS). In the not too distant future they can easily be extended with ISA. In the future it is possible to imagine a mandatorily selective application of ISA. It can be applied, for example, to notorious speeders. ISA could also be used in cars of young drivers. Young drivers have, namely, a relatively large chance of being involved in a road accident. Speeding could be one of the causes. It is evidently clear to begin with applying the automatic systems of ISA in residential and municipal areas, because there a many vulnerable road users in such areas. The public acceptance there will also be the highest. Then followed by the 60km/h and 80 km/h roads on which many conflict situations between rapid and slow traffic occur, as well as mutually between different types of rapid traffic. As last follow the motorways.
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