The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) announced that Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology will become a standard safety feature on all non-emergency fleet vehicles, making it the largest municipal ISA program in the world, according to NYCDCAS.
Tackling a Large Municipal ISA Initiative
“All new city vehicle orders will include Intelligent Speed Assistance, with the exception of emergency vehicles such as police, fire, and snowplows,” said DCAS Commissioner Louis A. Molina. “By integrating ISA into our fleet, we’re advancing safety, accountability, and innovation.”
The expansion will impact more than 7,000 vehicles citywide. DCAS first launched its ISA initiative in 2022, gradually expanding it across multiple agencies and vehicle types.
Mayor Eric Adams said the city’s goal is to make New York “the safest city in the world for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists,” adding that expanding ISA citywide is a key step toward that goal.
Deputy Mayor of Administration Camille Joseph Varlack emphasized that ISA represents “a commitment to safety and accountability” and ensures city drivers operate with public safety as a priority.
ISA Technology and Performance
ISA is a safety system designed to limit vehicle acceleration once the vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit or a speed threshold established by DCAS. The technology helps reduce speeding and supports the city’s Vision Zero initiative.
“In 2022, DCAS launched our first pilot of ISA with 50 vehicles, and it has been a clear success,” said DCAS Deputy Commissioner and Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman. “We’ve analyzed more than six million miles of driving data and observed measurable reductions in speeding. We’re now ready to make ISA standard for all new non-emergency vehicles.”
As of July, DCAS had installed ISA in approximately 700 vehicles across 21 agencies and 23 vehicle types. The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) became the first city agency to fully adopt ISA across its fleet of nearly 100 vehicles.
“ACS is proud to have led the way in implementing ISA across our entire fleet,” said ACS Commissioner Jess Dannhauser.
Proven Results and Program Recognition
Since the pilot began, vehicles equipped with ISA have shown a 64% reduction in speeding behaviors. Based on these results, the U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe Center and DCAS have elevated ISA from a pilot to a best practice technology in the city’s Safe Fleet Transition Plan (SFTP), classifying it as required safety equipment for eligible vehicles.
The ISA expansion complements other DCAS fleet safety initiatives, including telematics, truck side-guards, surround cameras, higher-vision truck designs, automatic braking systems, and backup cameras.
Earlier this year, DCAS received the National Safety Council’s Green Cross Safety Excellence Award for its leadership in municipal fleet safety.
