There is a call for speed-limiting cars

A short time ago I posted a segment on Geo-location and the possible use for tracking speeders. I didn't think that this could actually be taken further by the government.

They are planning to make a digital map of the road system in the UK and link that to a (voluntary - at present) device which could be installed in vehicles so that the car is forced to obey the speed limit for the road being travelled. The brakes would be applied by the computer system automatically without the driver having to actually do anything.

Using this system would really allow the authorities to know where you are and whether you a breaking any traffic regulations. What I thought would be only linked to mobile phones - and thus could be circumvented (leave your phone at home) quite easily - would now be fully integrated into your car and be able to track you wherever and at whatever speed you are going.

While this might be considered a life-saving device it has to be considered that there are times when being able to accelerate out of danger. and thus officially break the speed limit, would be useful and necessary.

It has been said that several, if not most, of the motoring groups would reject this idea because they consider that the government is placing too much emphasis on speed as the prime cause of accidents. I suspect that the freedom of choice people would have something to say about this too.

I extracted this information from the BBC News page at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7803997.stm and a few more bits of information and some background links can be found there.

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I had intended to add to this blog on a personal level but this will have to wait for a few more days, look for something on or before 08 Jan 09.

Love and peace to all for the New Year
Ainsley