The
Department of Transport is to start a large scale trial of speed limiters in the
spring. Twenty volunteers from Leeds are to be given Skoda Fabias with
electronic limiters fitted. For the first month they will drive them with the
limiters disabled in order to monitor their normal behaviour.
When the limiters are switched on they will work in conjuction with a GPS
system and an electronic map in order to establish the speed limit on the road
travelled. If the driver tries to accelerate beyond the limit then the system
steps in and blocks the request, keeping the car travelling within the limit.
There is an emergency override switch available to the drivers.
When
approaching an area with a lower speed limit than the car's current speed, a
countdown warning is flashed up on the dashboard and power reduced. The brakes
can even be applied automatically if necessary.
The cars won't be identified in any way other than having a sticker in the
rear window indicating that speed limits will be adhered to.
Trials have already taken place in Sweden where drivers reported getting to
their destinations in the same time but enjoyed driving less.
Further tests will be carried out on other types of vehicles and in different
areas before the results are published at the end of 2005.
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