Study: Proposal Would Spur Growth Of Advanced Auto Safety Systems

Proposed legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives could stimulate adoption of "Intelligent Vehicle Technology" (IVT) sensing and control systems in U.S.-sold vehicles, a new study suggests. The report, Automotive Radar/Lidar Systems, looks at the newest safety technologies making their way into automotive platforms. Such technologies include blind-spot detection, collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control. New York-based ABI Research, which conducted the study, says the Intelligent Vehicle Highway Safety Act of 2004 would spur adoption of such safety systems due to the inclusion of tax incentives for individuals and businesses that buy vehicles with IVT equipment installed. The high cost of advanced safety technologies is the primary inhibitor of IVT adoption, ABI Research states, coupled with lower consumer awareness and misperceptions about the systems. ABI Research senior analyst Robert LaGuerra notes a quirk in the proposed legislation. "There is one caveat in that the proposed bill is unclear in fully defining what an IVT system is. Systems falling into this category could include not only safety systems, but also GPS-based navigation/telematics devices."