Yigit Dedeoglu, one of Turkey’s well-known road safety experts, joined a live broadcast on Haberturk on July 25 to discuss Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), the system that has become mandatory equipment in the European Union. Drawing attention to the weight of speed-related crashes in Turkey, Dedeoglu said the technology could play a critical role in reducing fatalities.
Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), introduced by the European Commission under the General Safety Regulation, is now part of the public debate in Turkey as well. Speaking on Haberturk, road safety expert Yigit Dedeoglu walked viewers through how the system works and what it means for the country.
What is Intelligent Speed Assistance and how does it work?
As Dedeoglu explained during the broadcast, ISA is a safety system that reads traffic signs through the vehicle’s camera and draws on digital map data to determine the speed limit on the current road, warning the driver whenever the limit is exceeded. The system does not stop at audible and visual alerts; it can create gentle resistance in the accelerator pedal or gradually limit engine power to guide the driver back to the legal speed. The expert also addressed a common concern: the driver can override the system by pressing firmly on the accelerator, meaning final control always remains with the person behind the wheel.
Europe’s mandatory timeline is already in motion
Dedeoglu also summarized the legal framework in Europe. Under the EU General Safety Regulation, ISA became mandatory for newly type-approved models as of July 2022 and for all new vehicles sold in the European Union as of July 2024. The European Commission bases this step on the finding that speed is a decisive factor in roughly one third of fatal crashes, and regards the system as one of the core tools for reaching its target of halving road deaths by 2030.
“The most common fault is speed, and technology is part of the answer”
Turning to Turkey’s own figures, Dedeoglu recalled that according to TurkStat, 6,035 people lost their lives in traffic crashes in 2025, and that failing to adapt vehicle speed to road, weather and traffic conditions ranks first among recorded faults. The expert stressed that a large share of violations stems not from ignorance but from deliberate risk-taking, which is why education alone is not enough. According to Dedeoglu, vehicle technologies that make violations physically harder step in precisely where education and enforcement fall short.
The expert summed up his approach on air with these words: “We cannot eliminate human error, but we can eliminate its consequences.”
Dedeoglu also underlined that ISA is no magic wand on its own. For the system to work properly, speed limit signs must be current, consistent and legible both on the road and in digital maps. In his view, one of the steps Turkey needs to take is to start planning this infrastructure alignment now.
What lies ahead for Turkey?
Since a significant share of vehicles sold in Turkey are produced to EU type-approval standards, ISA-equipped models have already entered the Turkish market. Dedeoglu noted that the system will spread as the vehicle fleet is renewed in the coming years, but added that the real gains will come from a holistic policy that addresses speed management together with enforcement and road design.
The full broadcast is available on Haberturk’s YouTube channel.
