The new European car safety standards came into effect over the summer, but they were met with great indifference, like so many supposedly self-evident technological measures. After all, improving road safety has become a widely endorsed cause because nobody wants to kill, or be killed, in a road accident. Strengthening vehicles through innovation is an approach that dodges all forms of debate or discussion. However, behind these seemingly painless measures lies an entire political third rail concerning the relationship to technology, which is seen as having all sorts of powers and being the sole answer to every problem, even those for which it is itself responsible.

These new standards are a case in point. Since July 7, all new four-wheeled vehicles marketed in the European Union must be equipped with myriad electronic and sensor systems. These include lane-keeping assist, autonomous emergency braking, "intelligent" speed adaptation, driver distraction and drowsiness alerts, rear obstacle detection and more.

Cars and trucks will also have to pass new, more demanding crash tests, which will cause them to become heavier, noted the UFC-Que choisir. While it is impossible to predict the impact these measures will have on the likelihood of accidents, it is certain that they will not only increase cars' energy consumption, but will also expand their environmental footprint, with more electronics and screens on board, and therefore more water and energy required to manufacture them, more metals, rare earths, plastics, etc. The extent of the benefits is unclear, but the drawbacks are indisputable.

Technological reductionism

This brings us to the most laughable irony of European public policymaking, where decision-making seems to pull in both directions at once. While one floor of the Berlaymont is pedaling hard for the north, the floor below is furiously steering a course for the south (hence the central importance of commission spokesmen, whose job it is to come up with statements capable of convincing us that in fact, north and south are roughly in the same direction).

The European Union has set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, but at the same time, has been forcing its automotive industry to increase the environmental and climate footprint of its cars. It may be argued that the current trend, strongly encouraged by the EU, is toward the electrification of the fleet, but energy from renewable sources or nuclear power plants is not inexhaustible. Major efforts to reduce energy consumption will be needed in all sectors if we are to do without fossil fuels. This applies to every sector, that is, except the automotive industry: Consider that a small Renault Zoe or an electric Peugeot 208 weighs 1.5 tonnes, or about three times as much as a classic Citroën 2CV.

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