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Satellite-Enforced Speed Limits: A Glimpse Of Our Future?

September 17th, 2008 Posted in Speed Limits

The United Kingdom has always been at the forefront of the enforcement technology craze. Unfortunately, programs that are implemented there — extensive camera enforcement for example — often end up in the United States years later.
That’s what makes this story so frightening. An excerpt from the article:

Drivers could have their speed controlled by satellite to stop them from breaking the limit following a Government trial of new technology.
Cars fitted with the system would have their speed automatically monitored by satellites, which would also be programmed with the speed limits for different roads.
A motorist who tried to accelerate beyond the speed limit would find the system stopping the car from going any faster or issuing a warning instructing them to slow down.
[...]
Three types of the technology could be made available.
The first, known as “advisory”, would stop short of actually slowing the car down and would instead issue a voice alert reminding the motorist what the speed limit is.
A second version would either apply the brakes or cut the fuel supply to the engine, slowing it down to the speed limit, but a driver would be able to override the system – either by depressing the accelerator pedal firmly or pressing a button.
The third would take over complete control of the car and the driver would not be able to override the system at all.

Of course, in order to minimize opposition, the technology would be voluntary to start with:

The Department for Transport said that the installation of the technology would be voluntary, but it is already in talks with the motor industry over how it could be made available for those who wanted to buy it.

And by far, the most discouraging part of the article:

According to a poll carried out for the DfT, 54 percent of motorists would be willing to have the system installed in the car, if it was voluntary.

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