IIHS outlines best practices for active ISA in commercial fleets
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has published new guidance on deploying intelligent speed assistance (ISA) in commercial vehicle fleets.
ISA systems use GPS data, onboard cameras or a combination of both to identify speed limits and detect when vehicles exceed them. While passive systems alert drivers once they exceed the limit, active ISA goes further by limiting throttle input to prevent the driver from exceeding in the first place.
The guidance, prepared by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center, draws on feedback from eight fleet operators that have implemented or piloted active ISA.
Top findings
Fleets managers reported less aggressive driving behaviour, contributing to a 30% reduction in preventable collisions for one carrier.
The benefits go beyond safety. Reduced speeding led to lower maintenance costs through less wear and tear while some operators saw improvements in fuel efficiency.
Meanwhile, fewer speeding violations contributed to improved Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores - the system used by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to measure safety performance of commercial motor carriers and drivers.
ISA was also found to help companies avoid high-profile incidents that can lead to costly lawsuits and reputational risk.
Best practices for implementing ISA
The report highlights “best practices” for commercial operators considering ISA.
Establishing baseline metrics such as collision rates, speeding events, fuel consumption and insurance claim, is said to be critical to measuring before and after impact.
Early engagement with both leadership and drivers can help address concerns, build support and combat misconceptions such as ISA leading to harsh braking.
Piloting the technology on a small scale is recommended to identify and resolve technical challenges. Fleets can also tailor ISA systems, for instance by allowing limited speed tolerances or temporary overrides, to support operational flexibility.
With speeding linked to around 12,000 deaths in 2023, the study emphasises the potential of ISA as a life-saving intervention.
As IIHS President David Harkey noted: “Addressing this risky behavior is critical if we want to realize our 30x30 vision of reducing fatalities 30 percent by 2030. Fleets can lead the way.”
