Connected Cars Could Cut Road Deaths

Europe Moves to Put More Autonomous Technology in Cars

Last year was a disappointing one for those in Europe looking to cut the number of traffic fatalities and injuries. Despite officials’ best efforts, 26,000 people were killed in vehicle-related accidents, a 1 percent increase over 2014. After almost a decade of improved fatality statistics, the numbers have been trending back up in the past two years.

The office of the European Commissioner for Transport had set a solid goal of reducing accidents, fatalities and injuries on European roads during the coming years, despite an increase in driving. The commissioner expects to use both new and old approaches to increase safety. Governments across the EU are being encouraged to better enforce existing laws. The commissioner also spoke of the importance of deploying emerging technologies such as connected and autonomous driving.

Despite the recent rise in serious accidents, European roads are already among the safest in the world, with traffic fatalities down 17 percent since 2010, after a reduction of 43 percent in the previous decade. Denmark, Greece, Spain and Portugal have all cut road fatalities by more than 30 percent since 2010. By addressing the leading cause of accidents — human error — the European Commission believes it can push driving into a new era. Self-driving vehicles could, in theory, eliminate the majority of accidents by intercepting the weakest link in the chain.

Over the years, the EU has created a general framework for improved road safety with legislation and recommendations, but in 2015 another milestone for road safety was reached with agreement on the deployment of life-saving technologies. By March 2018 all new vehicles in Europe must be fitted with the eCall system, which automatically dials Europe’s emergency number (112) in the event of a serious accident. The autonomous calling system will then communicate the vehicle’s location to emergency services. The eCall system is expected to cut emergency service response times by up to 50 percent in the countryside and 40 percent in urban areas and reduce the number of fatalities. It’s a step in the autonomous direction.

Connected cars are another technology the EU expects will cut traffic fatalities. The European Commission aims to develop a master plan later this year on the deployment of cooperative intelligent transport systems — two-way communication between vehicles and infrastructure. In theory at least, connecting cars into a mesh network could enable automation to such a point that technology eliminates the need for traffic lights as algorithms smoothly direct vehicles though intersections. 

It will take several years before self-driving cars replace conventional vehicles and huge hurdles will have to be overcome to deliver a vision that contains no small amount of hype. Significant improvements in technology will be needed, as well as new policies and consumer assurances.

Such rules have only started to emerge. The state of California, for example, where a great deal of automotive automation is being developed, is taking the lead in proposing certain regulations. California could become the first state in the US to allow consumers to ride in self-driving cars. The current rules being proposed would require humans to take control of the cars if it becomes necessary, and the driver would be responsible for tickets and accidents. There’s no blaming the autopilot.