A new UN report unsurprisingly concludes that the risk of making mistakes behind the wheel increases with age. Now all new cars get a limiter.
A new UN report states that drivers aged 75 and over have a significantly greater risk of making mistakes with the pedals during traffic jams, also known as pedal errors. Now car brands have to install more restrictions in new cars.
Specifically, all new cars must be equipped with a number of restrictions in a so-called ACPE system. The rules, which will gradually apply from 2025, must make traffic safer, says the UN.
But back to the problem that the UN points to in the new report. The confusion between the pedals when the driver presses the accelerator instead of the brake.
The report points out that age plays a significant role in the likelihood of making such mistakes. As a consequence, the UN has imposed a series of new rules on all car manufacturers to reduce the risk of errors and minimize the consequences if they do occur.
The proportion of drivers aged 75 and over is increasing. This development can be seen especially in countries such as Japan, where improved living standards have made it possible for more elderly people to keep the choir card.
READ ALSO: Toyota refuses to give up – considering diesel hybrid
According to Japanese statistics, the proportion of 75-year-olds with driver's licenses is expected to increase from 4% in 2009 to 9.2% in 2025. The same data base shows that the risk of pedal failure among drivers in this age group can be up to eight times greater than among younger drivers leaders.
The vast majority of serious cases of pedal failure occur in cars with automatic transmissions. In England alone, 7 out of 8 such accidents happen in cars with automatic transmission.
To counter the problem, the UN has decided to impose stricter requirements on car manufacturers. These rules, which will come into force gradually from 2025, include the introduction of the so-called ACPE system.
The system is designed to detect accelerations caused by 'incorrect' use of the accelerator. However, it is not known whether the system can only intervene in such cases.
The main new requirements in the ACPE system are:
- Limitation of unintended acceleration : The system must detect incorrect use of the accelerator and control acceleration both forward and in reverse if there are obstacles close to the corvette.
- Identification of sudden movements : A rapid and deep activation of the accelerator (over 70% of the pedal travel, activated at a rate of at least 400% per second) should be considered as a fault.
- Control at a standstill : The ACPE system must limit acceleration when the train starts from a standstill.
- Collision prevention : The system must prevent or reduce the risk of collisions with obstacles 1-1.5 meters from the car, depending on road and weather conditions and the condition of the vehicle.
Pedal confusion is also a problem at home. Back in April this year, a Nissan Leaf with a 72-year-old woman flew through the facade of Netto on Nyborgvej in Odense. However, she was not charged with anything following the accident, which is still being investigated by the authorities.
The elderly woman herself denied that she had mistaken the accelerator and brake as she flew through the store's large glass section.
