Scaling ISA: Global NCAP hosts first Forum for Safer Mobility
Global NCAP officially launched its Forum for Safer Mobility in New York and the first subject to take to the stage was ISA.
Intelligent Speed Assistance - ISA - is a life-saving technology that uses GPS mapping, onboard cameras or a combination of both to identify local speed limits and detect when vehicles exceed them.
Its implementation is scaling across the world. Announced alongside the UN High-Level Meeting, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that ISA will be required for all new non-emergency municipal vehicle and truck procurements in the city. This builds on recent law which requires repeat speeding offenders in New York City to have the technology fitted to their vehicles.
Momentum is growing elsewhere on the continent. Virginia has passed legislation allowing judges to require ISA devices for drivers who exceed 100mph, while Washington State has approved legislation enabling certain reckless-driving offenders to regain driving privileges if ISA devices are installed in their vehicles.
Across the pond, ISA became mandatory for all new vehicles sold in the EU from July 2024.
Against this promising backdrop, Global NCAP hosted its first Forum for Safer Mobility with the FIA Foundation and Families for Safe Streets, bringing together city leaders, national NGOs and international partners to celebrate the recent successes of ISA and reinforce the call for global implementation of this life-saving technology.
“More ISA means more lives saved,” said Natalie Draisin, FIA Foundation UN Representative and Director of the North American Office. “This technology is scaling quickly because of strategic partners: technical experts sharing know-how, advocates pushing governments, fleets adopting what works and automakers and insurers bringing it to consumers.
“The FIA Foundation supports Global NCAP and national partners like Families for Safe Streets, who are turning that progress into real political and public support.”
New York City: An ISA trailblazer
The Forum took place in a city that is a true pioneer of ISA.
Coinciding with the High-Level Meeting, Mayor Mamdani signed Executive Order 19 that codified New York City’s commitment to installing ISA on all new non-emergency municipal vehicles.
Under the Executive Order, any contract for the purchase or lease of a non-emergency municipal fleet vehicle is mandated to have ISA technology fitted. The order will also see the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) retrofit all non-emergency municipal trucks with pedestrian alerts and make this a requirement for future non-emergency vehicle and truck procurements.
The Executive Order marks continued validation of this life-saving technology in a city that boasts the largest ISA-equipped municipal fleet in the US. According to officials, more than eight million miles have been logged using ISA by 1,000 vehicles at 21 agencies since August 2022, with the programme having reduced dangerous speeding among equipped vehicles by 64% in the city.
"Our administration expects every driver to do their part to keep our streets safe for everyone and that begins with those behind the wheel of our City vehicles," said Mayor Mamdani. "Pedestrian alerts and speed-limiting technology deliver immediate results and we can waste no time in keeping our neighbors safe."
New York City Council Member Shahana Hanif added: "Every New Yorker deserves to get home safely. Adding pedestrian alerts and intelligent speed assistance to the City's fleet is a commonsense step that will help prevent crashes, protect pedestrians, cyclists and drivers and make our streets safer for everyone. I'm grateful to DCAS for advancing these life-saving improvements and look forward to seeing them implemented across the City's fleet."
