Research in Smarter, Safer and Cleaner Vehicles

The long-term objective of the Smart Car Initiative, a smarter, safer and greener road transportation system, needs sustained research efforts. As its second pillar, the Initiative will therefore foster co-operative research in intelligent vehicle systems.

It will also help facilitate the take-up of research results.The Initiative’s scientific activities will be part of the 7th Framework Program, drawing of course on results achieved under FPs 5 and 6.
Specifically, the Initiative will support research and development in the following areas:

• The next generation of driver assistance systems in Smart Car, aiming among other things at enhanced performance, greater reliability and higher security;
• Co-operative systems in Smart car based on vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication to move from basic conceptual models towards integrated systems and applications;
• Real time traveller and traffic information and intermodal transport;
• A set of field operational tests in real-world environments to assess the impact of eSafety systems on driver behaviour and driving dynamics.
• In addition, a number of studies to investigate the needs for independent conformance testing and performance assessment methods will be tendered.

Awareness-raising Activities
Consumer research shows that the low market uptake and penetration of eSafety technologies is partly due to the fact that consumers, drivers and policy-makers know too little about the benefits of these systems, and about the way they function.

Active information dissemination to wide audiences is therefore the third field of activity of the Smart Car Initiative.

To stimulate demand among drivers, activities here will include regular technology demonstration events and targeted

Branding eSafety: The eSafety Communication Platform
Consumer studies show that safety matters when consumers choose a new vehicle.
However, communication on eSafety systems is often too technical and complex, containing a plethora of different abbreviations, some of which even refer to the same technology. Consumers need clear, simple messages so as to avoid being overloaded with technical details.
Branding eSafety is one way to support effective campaigning on eSafety systems.
An “eSafety brand” makes it possible to connect a logo to the general concept of eSafety systems, and frequent use of this brand name will create a positive recognition Such a general brand will also make it possible to include new eSafety devices when they arrive on the market.
To proceed in this direction, the eSafety Forum has recommended the creation of a Communication Platform for eSafety, following the example of EuroNCAP, EuroTest, EuroTAP, EuroRAP and others.

The Platform should have a broad participation of stakeholders, including Smart car manufacturers, system suppliers, digital map producers, automobile clubs,Member State and local road authorities, insurers, media, Smart car dealers and road safety institutes.

The Platform will work closely with communication and campaign managers, media and marketing experts, and representatives of user groups. Its work will focus on three main pillars: media, marketing and the policy framework. The eSafety Support office in Brussels will provide a secretariat to launch the Platform after which an independent structure will be established.
The Platform will be financed through a combination of membership fees, sponsorship from EU Member States and institutions, and private sponsorships.