David Byers
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Automatic speed control devices should be installed in cars to force motorists to stick to speed limits, an influential pressure group recommended today.
The Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT), a government transport advisory group, said that up to 29 per cent of injury accidents on the road could be prevented by the voluntary introduction of intelligent speed adaption (ISA).
The system, which the report recommended drivers installing on a voluntary and not compulsory basis, would automatically slow a car down to within the limit for the individual road on which it is being driven.
However opponents of the report, co-written by the pressure-group Motorists Forum, claimed the idea was dangerous as drivers would enter "zombie" mode, where they fail to pay proper attention to road conditions.
The report, which also looked at the impacts on fuel consumption, emissions, noise and road network efficiency, concluded that, on 70mph roads, adherence to the speed limit could also lead to savings of up to six per cent in CO2 emissions as well as reduce accidents.
It called for the Department for Transport to work with the relevant authorities, organisations and vehicle manufacturers to consider what steps should be taken to support and encourage the future availability of the technology and to promote its take-up.
“This important report shows the very real benefits to motorists from the introduction and use of an ISA system - not just in road safety but also in terms of fuel and money saved," CfIT vice-chairman David Leeder said.
Sir Trevor Chinn, chairman of the Motorists’ Forum, said: “The UK has an enviable record on road safety but we still kill nearly 3,000 people on our roads each year.
“This report shows the potential substantial savings in injury accidents that could be achieved through the introduction of ISA.
“The fact that the report is backed by our members, who represent interests across the motoring spectrum, is testimony to the desire of the motoring world to work with government to make our roads even safer.”
However, the proposals were immediately criticised today, with some saying the devices would potentially numb drivers' reactions to road conditions.
Claire Armstrong, from the road safety charity Safe Speed, told the BBC that the device would be "highly dangerous" for driver reactions. "You've taken the responsibility away from the driver," she said.
Derek Charters, from the Motor Industry Research Association, added: "The last thing you need is one car to be overtaking and then pull back in, in front of the cars in front, because that braking event will then cause everybody to start to slow down, which will then compress the traffic, which then causes an incident."
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The nanny state gone mad, get labour out.
Stephen, Newcastle,
even if some bloke puts a device supposively "limiting" the cars performance. the exact same thing will happen as with the mopeds. on a different note, all speed restrictions should be in a bracket - eg 27-30 on 30 limits, 60-70 motorways. anyone doing under these brackets should have points.
joshua palmer, burry port, wales, united kingdom
Why don't just this nanny state drive me to work, to the shop and back?
There is hardly any fun left in driving. I drive sensibly, with no points on my license. Everywhere, I stick to the rule of not exceeding the limit by more than 10%. Still, I am the slowest, while pensioners enter tows at 45mph.
Andras, London, UK
no they should not under any circumstances. Acceleration can pull you clear of danger as well as breaking.
these people are totally misguided
mike, Bath, Uk
Can't argue with a speed limiter, or speed cameras. What I argue with are the speed limits. If they are high enough to only be reached during quiet periods, I'm sure there'd be few protests. At their present low and reducing levels, enforcing them like this is just another controlling act.
Adam Nakar, Surbiton,
I have had a car, until recently, with cruise control. Very convenient for negotiating average speed restrictions but it is easy to drift off into "automatic " mode on a long motorway journey. I am happier without the facility.
Robert Bretton, Colchester, England
There are 112,000 deaths per year caused by smoking - how about tackling that first?
Derek, LA, USA
A speed limiter means everybody would just drive round with the foot to the floor safe in the knowledge they could never have an accident.
Carl Pickering, Ely, UK
Speed limiters would be a good idea. If they had been fitted, I wouldn't have triggered the speed camera.
Nor would the ambulance with the blue lights on 2 seconds behind me. He would have just had to wait.
I should have watched my speed not my mirrors and the road.
M Dixon, Nuneaton,
That's strange, I was in London the other week and this convoy of limosines, with police escort, sirens going, flashed past me down the Mall doing about 70 miles an hour!! One rule for us, one for them, as usual.
Paul, Milton Keynes, UK
Isnt it more dangerous to be driving within the speed limit whilst using a mobile phone? Surely its these idiots who should be tackled first.
Dave, Huddersfield, UK
Exceeding the speed limit is the contributary factor in 13% of fatal casualties, according to the DfT's stats. 3000 people, ish, die on the roads each year. No speeding by anyone would still result in 2700 deaths. How is that justification for ISA? Driving should be a priviledge, not a right.
Dave, Leeds, UK
So there you are, overtaking a tractor with plenty of space - there's a car coming, but plenty of time. Oh no - there's a 30 sign behind the tree, I didn't notice and the car's hit the limiter. What then...? We have one of the lowest accident rates in Europe - this plan would not reduce it further.
Charlie, London,
This is just another example of the nanny state at work. In effect, it's a communist ideology, to have everyone driving around in effectively the same type of vehicle i.e. one that does exactly the same speeds as every other vehicle. Will Brown have us all driving Trabants next !?
Anthony, London, England
Thank our communist government for this "brainwave". I'm sure really they'd rather we all drive round in cars that are capable of no more than 30mph, hmm, let me think,.. what car would that be?.. A Trabant perhaps?! Thanks comrade Brown! NOT!!!
james hunt, Rye, England
Other modes of transport have strictly enforced rules for safety reasons, why not road transport? The juvenile marketing of cars as objects of speed and expression should be controlled, it costs lives. Cars should be seen for what they are functional items, not expensive dangerous immature dreams.
JB, St Francis Bay , South Africa
I can only imagine that these "experts" have no love of motoring. You could kiss Astons, Mazeratis and the like g'bye. The day I can sit in the back, tell it where I want to and relax is the day I'll "voluntarily" install a speed limiter. And mandatory my backside, that's the thin end of the wedge.
Richard, Europa, Europa
Errr, so if they install this in all cars, where will all the lost revenue from speed traps, fines etc. come from? Its really not going to happen is it? Just another gimmick showing the government will listen to joe public, whilst never intending to use such devices as they would loose BILLIONS.
thomas lyng, dover, kent
The highest death rate on the roads today is from pedestrians not looking and listening, the money would be better spent on Tufty and Green Cross Code adverts.
Arthur, London, UK
Insanity, I have a sat nav that says caution when I go over the speed limit stored in its memory, useful aid but not always right, I can override it with my brain using relevant information, like traffic and weather conditions, the capabilities of my vehicle, the real speed limit and REASON !!!!
am, letchworth,
What next a A MAN WITH A RED FLAG.
Nemo
Jon Nemo, Llanelli, UK
The alternative is something like a mobile phone on each lamppost. It watches the cars through its camera, assesses the excess speed, converts the number plate to a registration number, sends a text message to the driver and debits his account with £2. Cheap and easy to make.
John Grassby, Guildford, uk
So if your on the highway and coming up to an entrance to the highway with many cars coming and theres no space behind you, and you're going the speed limit, you can't go any faster and you decide to pullover very quickly so you don't get in an accident. smart.
David Summers, haddonfield,
what is the point making cars to go faster than the speed limits.seems like all cars are designed for the racetrack,oops our streets.
micael, st helens,
It was not me officer, it was my vehicle!
Untill intelligent systems have been developed and installed in vehicles that can monitor the surrounding environment and react to changing conditions in real time with a good margin of safety, I'd rather the control be in my hands.
Paul, brockhall,
Accidents happen - period, and yes stupid people do stupid things in cars, however, that is no excuse to legislate against the majority who can drive quite responsibly over 70mph.
There are few enough freedomes left in this nanny state.
Ban low IQ drivers already.
Phil, Bristol,
Yes Oliver Webber - this is exactly what socialism is all about. That is why I am not a socialist.
Mark, Leicester, UK
These people have gond mad. it is not speed that kills it is the poor way in which we teach people how to use the cars. we let any one drive on our roads.we need to educate people not to drive to fast in closed area's and poor weather. we are a nation that hits people after we have done wrong.
Richard, Bristol, UK
What about motorway fog? Even with a restriction of 70 its still too fast for fog. Maybe we should come up with something to control speed in those conditions. Why stop there, its also dangerous to speed at night so lets slow the traffic down even more after a certain time. Give us a break will you.
Glen Livesey, Huddersfield, Yorkshire
Fifty speed limit. Car in front doing thirty. Start to overtake and the car speeds up to fifty, car coming the other way what next?
This is nothing to do with safety, this is do with control by the state. As with speed cameras it is another means to tax.
David, hidd, bahrain
Driving too slowly is more dangerous than driving too fast, so what about them people who think they only need to do 50 in the middle lane of a motorway? They cause accidents as people overtake and cut others up. There should be more driver awareness and common sense applied in general.
Nathan Parkes, Lincoln, England
After reading this i am so glad I left the UK! Most depressing however is the same idiots who voted Labour into power will probably do it again.
Paul, Worcester, England
We need more Police patrol cars. It's amazing the effect a visible police car has on inconsiderate drivers. Who doesn't have the highway code going through their head when they spot a Police car? Finance the increased patrols with the revenue gained from stopping inconsiderate driving.
Wes , Hastings, England
It is claimed that 29% of injury accidents would be prevented. DfT's Road Casualties Great Britain, 2007 states that only 6.5% of injury accidents are caused while exceeding the speed limit.
Safetywise, it means that I just ram the accelerator to the floor and leave it there, whatever or wherever.
Joseph, Great Wyrley, UK
Progression Backwards anyone? What a load of rubbish.
Jim, lyndburg,
The speed does not kill brigade again try a week, inaccurate defence over the use of speed limiters. One minute they say, and I agree, speed cameras are a distraction, but now the use of speed limiters. If speed is automatically controlled you will be free to concentrate on your driving.
Brian Hunt , Worcester, Worcestershire
Speed doesn't cause accidents, drivers who are not concentrating on the road, cause accidents. Drivers who tend to exceed the limits occasionally are more aware of the road. Drivers who pootle around are far too unaware of the road. How can a driver overtake someone doing 28 when they can only do 30
Allen, Pyrford, England
Why not go for automatic speed control with a button for 30,40,50,60 and 70 mph much as cruise control we have today without having to take your eyes of the road. The technology is already just the speed settings that are missing.
Gordon Marshall, Peterborough, Cambs
Has anybody looked at the possablity that preventing a car from increasing speed could cause accidents as a driver could be exposed to a danger he can not avoid quickly enough at the speed limit. If someone dies due to a device preventing them from moving from danger this would raise legal issues
stephen, London,
GPS goes wrong occasionally, what's going to happen when you're doing 70 on the motorway and then your speed limiter gets confused and thinks you're actually on the 30mph limit road crossing the motorway on that little bridge in front of you? Anchors on? Lorry on your backseat were your kids were?
IB, Bedford,
I like it. I will also introduce a car camera that will spots if you are picking your nose, which is very dangerous if you are driving.
Of course, the radio has to goo too, it distracts.
what about talking and driving? Hmmm, dangerous!
paul, london, uk
Agressive driving kills, not speed. Especially pertinent is the current trend for pressuring drivers out of the lane in front known as tail gating. Better than speed limiters we need a technology that detects relative proximity while travelling speed with bans for this form of dangerous driving.
Andrew Manson, Lewes, East Sussex
As a socialist of sorts, I really hate what is happening to this country. An illegal war, CCTV on nearly every street, a proposed e-mail database, global tracking devices in our cars to "regulate speed" and over 2000 new laws introduced since Labour came to power. Is this what socialism is about?
Oliver Webber, Bristol, England
The device works using GPS and a road map of the UK. *It will know the route you have taken*. Want to bet it will store the routes you take? and if it does, the State, by law, will have access to that data. If you were speeding, when your car is serviced and the journies read, will you be charged?
Blank Xavier, Amsterdam, Holland
What I would like to have is a preset cruise control button for 30mph and 40mph. With cruise control you can accelerator when necessary to avoid an accident. Then a driver can keep their eye on the road and not the speedometer for fear of going one lousey mile over the limit and getting fined.
dave, Shrewsbury, UK
This strikes me as potentially very dangerous. The driver's ability to accelerate, as well as decelerate, to avoid a hazard is essential for safe car control.
Adam, London,
Perhaps the Govt should quit pussy-footing around and bring in a zero-alcohol limit for driving, believe that would have a greater affect on road safety than 'speed limiters'.
And on the subject how about getting cyclists to obey the highway code and getting children to 'follow the green x code'
Dave, Liverpool,
Can we have a limiter on their 'speedy' lips for a start before the car trials.
its often the problem with these 'slower' thinking people.
pazz, london, uk
Argh. The article says it could stop 29% of road accidents, why don't they focus on the 71% that aren't related to speed and maybe come up with something that isn't completely ridiculous in every way, financially, economically, legally, practically.
Brian, Glasgow, United Kingdom
What about the revenue from catching speeding drivers. The police would go broke if no one could speed. Well they would be able to pick up the peices from collisions though caused by reckless drivers preventing safe overtaking due to their ignorance! But hey at least they won't have been speeding!
Rodger, London,
Nanny state again for like the ten time this year. we should have a british autobahn!
pete, rochford,
Sigh. Wouldnt better driver training,rd layouts,fair/sensible camera locations,nurturing a culture of responsibility&pride in driving be more rational? CfIT's idea absolves people of responsiblity & lowers driving stds as people 'switch off'-confident in their gizmoladed metal cocoons.Naive or sad?
Viraj, London, United Kingdom
Effectively bannng overtaking, as you need the discretion to speed up if the person you are passing does something stupid.
I dont want to be on the outside and find someone coming towards me but my car wont let me get out of danger.
What planet are these people on? Do they even drive?
D, Oxford, England
Enough of this nonsense. I want the government to develop transport so that I can drive my car at 100mph in safety from A to B. They sure havn't developed public transport so that it is a viable alternative. ENOUGH of this "slow down" hysteria - let's get a move on!
John, Colchester,
The Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) should be disbanded and the money saved can be spent on creating meaningful jobs - extra police on the beat maybe?
nick, bishops stortford, uk
Cars already have speed control devices.
Dudley, Southampton, UK
Having them fitted should be discretionary but with the incentive of reduced insurance premiums for those who do, that way you can pay your money and take your choice. As an aside if all vehicles had them fitted there would be no need for speed cameras anymore would there?
Alastair, Rye, UK
What next ? restrictions on the speed pedestrians can walk, issue all men with "Stepford type Wives", this Government is going way beyond normality. I am not a NUMBER (yet)
KeithW, Merseyside, UK
If introduced what we need is not a speed limiter but a speed decider ie. If it's 30mph you travel at 30mph and not 25 on an empty road as a lot of drivers do - traffic willing.
I was nearly involved in a crash by some idiot who travelled 25mph on a dual carriage and changed lanes as I overtook.
Adrian Jones, Whitehill, UK
Yes and maybe we should all have implants in our heads to stop us thinking "the wrong type of thoughts". It could reduce crime by up to 95%. It would stop terrorism overnight, for goodness sakes think of the children ! ....
Book me on the next flight out of this lefty control freak nightmare.
Mark, Bedford,
Look at the Board of the Commission. It is heavily weighted to public transport interests with no representatives of the car industry - which is still a major UK sector - or drivers. Biased membership, biased reports.
clifford, reading ,
According to the police 3% of accidents are caused by speeding (breaking the speed limit), the often bandied about 15% relates to accidents caused by excessive speed, but with nearly within the speed limit. How about signs to warn of tail-gating? No money for the police in it, but would save lives
Osher Kazarnovsky, London,
More anti speed hysteria from a minority pressure group given the oxygen of publicity by the media.
The motoring general public are yet again targeted as walkovers to deploy snoop technologies, raise taxes and satisfy the zeal of the anti-car crusaders.
Graham Hall, Bromley, Kent
What we actually need is a speech-limiter on these government advisors. Or just a government-limiter.
Joe, London town,
"Speed Kills" runs the advert. If that were true then every time someone speeds there would be a death. Clearly this is not so. The relationship between speed and injury/death on Britain's roads is a statistical one. Are we to be governed by statistics? It's not speed that kills, it's bad driving.
Lars, Slough, England
EXcessive and inappropriate speeds can pobviously lead to accidents but this anti-speed lobby fails to make the point that people driving excessively slowly especially on major A-roads can lead to accidents. Leave the responsibility with the driver.
Ted, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
Why not get rid of the untaxed and unisured vehicles off the road, this would reduce traffic by 10% , reduce accidents but would mean tax take on fuel would fall by £4billion, so nothing is done. Our beloved NuLabour politicians answer, more regulation on the law abiding.
Paul, Lincoln,
Rev limiters have been tried and failed as they cut in on cars on the outside lane and left them powless for several minutes which prooved deadly. There is no replacement for a driver under any conditions. Oh and why waste good money on unecessary reports when good sense is all thts needed
Keith Webb, Middlesbrough, Cleveland
Britain is truly a nanny state which would spoon feed its infantilised population until they can neither think nor act like independent human adults. Since when did Britons become such a bunch of cossetted, worried, precious little darlings? We could not have won WWII with this baby mentality.
Harka Dahl, London,
Voluntary installation of the devices would of course be a complete waste of time. Utterly ridiculous, just like voluntary ID cards. Only the Monty Pythonesque British can invent such nonsense. The idea of speed control devices in cars is excellent but to impact safety they have to compulsory.
Simon , Stockholm , Sweden
This isn't the first attempt to have every car fitted with a GPS device that can be used to monitor the location of your car, 24 hours a day. (Road Pricing).
The figures don't add up because its everything to do with Orwellian control freakery, little to do with safety.
Scott, Kingswinford, England
Oh Britain please wake up! First it was voluntary ID cards to stop criminals and illegal immigrants, now voluntary speed restrictors to stop speeding motorists! No wonder Monty Python was a British invention! Try making it mandatory, and it's a great idea, otherwise it's just a joke.
Simon , London, UK
Well if they use the device there will be no need for speed cameras and motorway patrols and the police can go and deal with proper crime like people being stabbed and shot.But motorist pay their fines mostly and knife gun totting thugs do not get a fine so the motorist is an easy target.
philip, Albergaria A Velha, Portugal
Oh no! What is the government thinking? If this goes through then drivers might have to obey the law and stick to the speed limit!
Seriously though, as long as any safety issues are addressed, what's the problem?
Sane, London,
What next from these control freaks?
These are the desperate attempts of a government devoid of fresh ideas to look like it's doing something, the last Tory government did it as well, after 2 terms they run out of ideas and start trying any crackpot scheme they hear of.
Save us from 3rd terms
Ian J, Ramsgate, England
Police cannot be replaced by machines, Period.
No speed camera, no governors, no asbo cameras, we-need- police. Actual-Human-police in contact with the public is what's required. Silly question, but how many drunk drivers will this stop?
1984 was a warning, not a how-to guide.
Steve, Derby, England
the craziest idea's yet, although from some of the statements above it looks like we would need it.. as for a device that warns that the speed limit has been exceded surely thats what the speedo is for?? is it not?? a device that actually slows the vehicle to the correct speed, I use my right foot!!
Dave, Derby,
Why is it that the government forget about terrible state of road repair across the UK. We have some of the worst road conditions in Europe. I wonder how many lives could be saved if we had better roads to drive on that dont have huge potholes or slippy bitumen repair strips.
Wai Tsang , Dudley, UK
I agree with Dave of Southampton, yes our cars will be tracked, next step is police/government will be able to control your car totally, monitor every move you make, this is all a stepping stone to total control over us. Under the skin implants go hand in hand with this one. beware indeed.
Frank D, Morecambe, UK
Re Martin from Newmarket who suggests a device that would warn the driver who has exceeded the speed limit. My TomTom GPS incorporates this function, which I find a very useful audible reminder, and I believe has, so far, helped keep my driving licence clean!
Steve Oneill, London, UK
fitting devices to cars to help keep within speed limits is just another way of admitting your speeding they could be linked to charging systems and everybody would be paying more. the question of speed is educational but the problem we have there is the number of unqualified drivers on the road .
michael, liverpool, uk
In answer to the first comment, they have that already fitted. Its called a speedometer. The death rate on motorways is not down to speed as other factors come into play such as we are all going the same way.
It really is simple stuff and we have the remedy - your right foot.
Brian, Aylesbury, England
Well, I suppose those people who sit on Quangos have to have something to do to justify their huge salaries.
Absolute tosh! This has nothing to do with road safety. Its about control and the generation of revenue.
Jeffers, Maidstone, UK
We do not need devices to take over our cars, we need to ensure that drivers are better trained.
Implement higher standards in driving tests, require at least one further test after a new driver has been driving for one year, and get motorway driving into the learner's curriculum!
Ben, Manchester, UK
I already have a speed restricting device installed on my car, it's called a 'foot'.
Bev, Louth, UK
Japanese cars for the home market have been fitted with a speed control for years which prevents you exceeding 180km/h (112mph). But an electronic element soldered on the engine management system head bypasses this restriction..... so they say.
Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan
This has to be the most dangerous idea ive seen suggested for britians roads.
You just have to consider all the non uk traffic on the roads without limiters installed.
I.E. European lorries + Blindspot = Potential Hazard.
This is another way of saying that drivers cant be trusted.
Tom Foreman, Kent,
another politics on tax payers money. stop this nonsense trust on devices. Politicians're lobbing with device manufacture to increase profit instead of public care. Sham on MPs for these studies wast of tax money.These are new tactics of MPs corruptions. Why don't we make law to stop MP corruption.
Syd, London, UK
Will the government pass a law to stop us getting old. That should prevent a few deaths. We need a new government - Vote Me! ;-)
Dilli Gaf, South London, UK
I agree with Robert from Hartlepool - why are we, the taxpayer, funding bodies like this to produce half-baked conclusions as ridiculous as this. Forget everything else - think of the CONGESTION!!! If you forced every car on the motorway to travel at 70mph, its capacity would drop like a stone...
Dean Rodrigues, Oxford, UK
Speed doesnt kill on its own, It only adds to the mix, speed's role is mostly to magnify the consequences of other unsafe acts and taking out things like right of way violation etc then you would not have had a crash. If this device would only work in poor conditions i.e Icy roads then it would help
Chris Perry, Lincon, UK
Yes and just think, if we all wrap ourselves in bubble wrap we wouldn't hurt ourselves when we fall over!
- In the process of trying to end human suffering we are in danger of creating a world not worth living in. Every penny spent on this idiot scheme ought to be poured into education instead.
ben wright, nottingham, england
presume this will include motorbikes...scooters...mopeds...ambulances...fire engines...even racing push bikes can do over 30mph..!! and why not include restrictors on disability trikes on the pavements to say 2mph...govt must have money to burn, keeping redundant civil servant academics occupied
ken, kidderminster, uk
Why do car makers produce cars that can do 0-60 in whatever amount of seconds? With a top speed 70+mph over the speed limit? For our freedom apparently?
Stop complaining that of the 29% only 3% are killed. Tell that to the school boy with severe brain damage, or the paralised mother of 4.
Dean, Birmingham, West Midlands
An excellent idea I hope the gov adopts it! The stuff about zombie drivers is of course rubbish, we already have automatics and cruise control devices neither of which make zombie drivers. We also need devices which prevent drivers from getting too close to the car in front to muzzle the SUV bullies
Simon , London, UK
Don't be naive! Stealth Tax Alert!
Once introduced under the lie of "safety", they can then extend this to toll charging where ever they want.
-Privacy is further eroded
-Populace is kept down
-UK comparably lower death rates on overpopulated roads filled with new age low trained immigrants
Andy, Derby, UK
What happens if you need to accelerate to avoid an accident? I was driving from Scotland and a foreign lorry in the middle lane veered into the fast lane, I quickly accelerated and steered just missing the central reservation. If there was a limiter on the car I'd probably be dead.
Craig, Halifax, England
The accidents I read about are due to drivers falling asleep, drug takers, drunks, using mobile phones. This is another headline grapping statement from a body which needs to justify it's government funding. What next, Jeremy C. for Prime Minister, hope so!!!!
Simon, Knaresborough, England
What would be far more useful is a device that warns the driver if the limit is exceeded, but does not actually limit the car's speed. The driver then retains control - and responsibility - but is at least aware that the limit has been exceeded.
Martin, Newmarket, Suffolk
Why is the taxpayer funding these ridiculous studies?
Safety alone dictates remote controlled cars are an extremely bad idea. Remote controlled politicians, common sense transplants, and even reality transplants would be more beneficial. What a monumental waste of taxpayers money!
robert, Hartlepool, cleveland
I'm getting bored of all this anti-speed stuff. By far the biggest threat on the roads is inattentive driving! This will only increase that problem.
Motorways have a lower death rate than slower roads. This categorically rules out speed as the sole dangerous factor which so many people seem to think
Jamie, Halifax, West Yorkshire
Waste of money and research, when looking at just how many deaths are ACTUALLY caused by exceeding the speed limit (less than 3%!). Most road deaths are not from cars breaking the speed limit, but from stupid unregulated speed limits on roads which should be altered and reworked to make them safer.
Steve, Kent, UK
You could also introduce a man to walk in ront of the car carrying a red flag-thus eliminating unemployment at the same time
Martin, Southend on sea,
Speed is contributory in only 3% of fatalities, where does this 29% come from? The infrastructure and technology is years away, and will cost 10s of billions. Its lucky that we are such a wealthy nation that has nothing better to do with itself, such as NHS or equipment for the army.
manav, London, UK
How about better driver training, and more investment in decent public transport. Try driving or using a train in Germany for an example of how to do it right.
Geoff, Woodville,
My Sat Nav already has a function which shows the current speed limit, accurate to 10 yards. It would only take a simple wiring loom and a software patch to allow GPS control of my speed. No doubt the car makers will drag their feet on this as it will reduce the market for boy racers cars.
Barry, Havant, England
The only effective way you can electronically limit a cars speed is with a rev limiter.
This would take away the control of the vehicle from the driver.
This will cause accidents, not prevent them.
N Wilson, Bourne,
I'm a 30 yr old man, I must still have mommy to tell me what to eat and how to behave.
Like gun control, another INEFFECTIVE law and gesture to placate those who are incapable of thinking for themselves.
gishere, phoenix, usa
As about 2,000 people die every day whilst NOT on our roads against 9 per day on them I fail to see that road deaths are much of a priority in the great scheme of life.
Assuming a population of 60,000,000 that lives on average 75 years each then that is the approx. daily death toll in the UK.
keith, WELSHPOOL, UK
Another of Labour's Big Brother stunts. It should be suppressed as vigorously as possible. A Satnav system is used to determines the local speed limit, automatically informing the government of the location of every car using the system. The next step will be to make the system compulsory. Beware!
Dave, Southampton, UK
Its high time rogue motorists were brought under control, and decent citizen's and their children given the freedom to use the public highway without fear of being killed by some selfish speeder.
Rebecca, London,
A more likely use will be automatic fines or penalty points for speeding. It can also facilitate more flexible road charging, like charging more for more polluting vehicles, more on certain roads, certain times. It records where you go, allowing the road charges to be fine tuned for better effect.
Neil, Norwich, UK
This is an idea which I a mere peasant have been advocating for years, if the national speed limit is 120 KPH then cars should be fitted with gadgets and detuned to ensure this, it is only a matter of common sense. The ISA system however would cut out the income from speed cameras. what a shame!
dave madley, Alicante, Spain
Point less waste of time i will never fit one to my car and will vote BMP before i am forced to fit one by Nu Labour.
MR Jones, Liverpool, England
Reports indicate that owing to various vehicles incompatibility this would need to be implemented over a period of approximately 20 years. Can you just imagine the chaos?
Another no brainer from a government quango !
Paul, Rochester, UK
What is an acceptable Road Traffic death rate?
Chris, London,
It is about time our society faced up to the contradictions of shiny, outragiously costly and dangerously fast sex symbols versus, effiency safety and staying within the law. It should be mandatory! What a joke and further contradiction, if the government now saves Jaguar.
chris clarke, chappaqua, USA
If they want to do a useful study then why not tell us how much extra fuel we use going over all these speed bumps constantly stopping and then accelerating.Balance that out on the climate!
Kevin, London, England
A great idea, as long as they're not mandatory.
Lawrence, Salisbury, United Kingdom