Technical 42 www.aftermarketonline.net SEPTEMBER 2024 Wake-up call over auto safety systems A new EU vehicle safety regulation will impact the UK despite Brexit and the auto market should stay alert, says Yousif Al Ani, ADAS principal engineer at automotive risk intelligence company Thatcham Research The EU’s New Vehicle General Safety Regulation, also known as GSR2, came into effect across Europe in July of this year in a bid to make driving safer for vehicle occupants and vulnerable road users (VRUs). The UK is yet to sign up to GSR2, which vehicle manufacturers will adhere to across Europe. The technology mandated by this directive is already found in most new cars — and the UK could be at risk of falling behind in automotive safety by not adopting it. GSR2 amended the minimum performance standards (known as type approval) for motor vehicles in the EU, adding new required advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These include intelligent speed assist (ISA), autonomous emergency braking (AEB), driver drowsiness and attention warning (DDAW) and emergency lane keeping systems (ELKS). GSR2 will affect new cars sold across Europe, including the UK, and the regulation mandates active safety features such as ISA and AEB to be fitted as standard on new cars. Crash avoidance is the future of automotive safety. Modern vehicles are very good at protecting occupants in the event of a collision through passive safety features, such as airbags and crumple zones, but these have limited benefit to VRUs. KSI (killed or seriously injured) statistics amongst VRUs remain stubbornly high at more than 11,000 each year according to Department for Transport figures. The key to reducing these numbers is through the wider introduction of active crash avoidance systems. As ADAS is increasingly fitted to cars, vehicle manufacturers will need to address concerns from drivers that these systems, such as emergency
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