In Great Britain, those representing the Commission for Integrated Transport as well as the Motorists’ Forum both who advise the Government on transportation believe new technology that will automatically detect and then determine best speed limits practices could potentially lower injuries from vehicle crashes by as much as 29 per cent (and also reduce carbon emissions). 

This kind of system called Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) – would require digital maps of roads which would also contain speed limits for specific areas. The high tech devises would use satellite positioning technology to uncover a vehicles’ speed limit and its location, and if necessary, would reduce the vehicle speed while in motion.  The system can advise the driver when the vehicle is found to be exceeding the speed limit with an audible and/or visual warning,  control maximum speed through an over-ridable system where the driver can choose to override the speed limiting function and regain full manual control until a new speed limit is encountered and/or the road speed drops beneath the current speed limit at which time ISA regains control, and it will also be able to control maximum speed through a mandatory speed limiting function that the driver cannot override.

In their detailed report (which you can view by clicking here) The Commission for Integrated Transport has found:

• ISA can have a large impact on future accident numbers, particularly on the more severe crashes – a 100% usage of mandatory ISA could save nearly 29% of injury accidents.
• Potential is greatest on 30mph roads where there is considerable propensity to exceed the speed limit and crashes involve collisions with pedestrians and cyclists.

The Commission for Integrated Transport and the Motorists’ Forum both agree that these high tech speed nannies (as I like to call them) should be fitted on a voluntary basis at the onset.  The report follows lengthy trials backed by the Department for Transport, which has been in talks for some time with the motor industry over how the devices could be made available and when.

John Lewis, who is Chairman of the panel, told BBC Radio:

“You can override the device that we’re talking about, either by pressing a button on the steering wheel or by kicking down the accelerator as you would on an automatic car.  But we conducted trials with 20 cars and 80 different drivers over an extended period, and actually the drivers found they changed their habits and changed their behavior. 

However, critics of the new speed technology say that a current and similar system for truck drivers has shown that the automatic speed detection device may cause drivers to become distracted, thereby not giving their full attention to the road.

Claire Armstrong, who is from the road safety charity Safe Speed, agrees: 

“They drive along at 56, they stick their foot on the floor because they know the equipment will not go any faster, and they pretty much go into fatigue mode, or zombie mode.  They stop paying attention to the road, and that makes it highly dangerous in those scenarios. You’ve taken the responsibility away from the driver and that is not good for road safety.”

This reminds me of the post I wrote last week about Volvo’s attempts to design and develop a crash proof car for the Volvo S60. If readers remember, one of the features the car maker is hoping to implement is that in the event of an impending crash, the high tech system on the S60 will warn the driver of the an impending collision.  If the driver doesn’t take any action to avoid the collision, the brakes will override and apply automatically.  I realize it’s not exactly the same thing as what the British are proposing, but it did strike me as being somewhat similar since the brakes are such a key component.

All in all, I don’t know what I truly think of either concept. I’m all for better safety features (who isn’t?), but I’m not sure what I think about my vehicle having the ability to actually be able to take over my judgement. Not only that, but doesn’t this bring up all kinds of questions for the insurance companies?  I don’t know…I’m just throwing it out there.

What do Cars for Girls readers think is a high tech speed nanny a good idea or a bad idea?

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