France (Business Emerge), July 25: Renault is set to launch a groundbreaking carline this summer, introducing a performance scoring system that assesses motorists’ driving skills on a scale of 100 points per trip. This innovative approach comes in response to recent European car safety regulations and aims to foster a spirit of friendly competition while prioritizing road safety.
The newly designed system will evaluate drivers’ performance at the conclusion of each journey, deducting points for unsafe driving behaviors such as tailgating, lane drifting, or speeding. Available in all new Renault models, this system could potentially lead to reduced insurance premiums for drivers who share their scores.
To complement this feature, Renault will also establish an online platform where users can opt to appear on a scoreboard, comparing their performance with other drivers. This addition is expected to drive engagement and motivate safer driving habits.
The scoring mechanism will integrate with existing vehicle technologies, including reversing assistance, lane-keeping support, adaptive cruise control, and automated braking. Drivers will have the option to adjust the scoring feature, though it cannot be permanently disabled. Instead, they will need to confirm their preference each time they start the vehicle.
Mandatory Safety Technology in European Vehicles
As of July 6, new European and Northern Irish vehicles are mandated to include advanced safety technologies that alert drivers through vibrations, sounds, or automatic deceleration if they breach new safety standards. This includes intelligent speed assistance (ISA), which utilizes GPS data to recognize and enforce speed limits.
While this regulation applies to EU countries and Northern Ireland, the UK has opted out of enforcing this requirement domestically. Nevertheless, many vehicles will still be equipped with this technology, which can be manually turned off by drivers.
Since 2022, European car manufacturers have been required to integrate such safety systems, although they were previously removable. The European Transport Safety Council has reported that most drivers view this technology positively, noting that it has contributed to a 20% reduction in traffic fatalities and helped avoid speeding fines.