New speed limiting devices could be fitted to cars

By Ben Hurst on Dec 30, 08 07:18 AM

A GOVERNMENT report released today says speed-limiting devices should be fitted to cars on a voluntary basis.

The aim of this scheme is to help save lives and cut carbon emissions.

The government's transport advisers claim the technology would cut road accidents with injuries by 29 per cent.

The device automatically slows a car down to within the limit for the road on which it is being driven.

I just dread to think what this technological innovation would mean if it was widely introduced.

After all, let's look at lorries, which already have speed limiters.

All that happens is each driver sits with his foot on the accelerator on the floor.

Technology never works perfectly, so basically our dual carriageways are usually blocked by lorries travelling 0.7 mph faster than each other slowly overtaking.

And because they haven't got much to do except calculate the distance to the next greasy spoon, drivers drift off, frequently ploughing into queues of halted traffic.

In the case of this device, the motorways would be filled with drivers speeding up to pass someone, and then slowing down 'mid overtake' when the limiter kicks in.

With roads also filled with people not using the device and therefore able to accelerate at will, the potential for accidents is obvious.

In any case it's voluntary - so nobody would fit it.

Another 'quick win' government initiative then!