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PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 13:46 
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Calls for 'speed-limiting' cars

Speed-limiting devices should be fitted to cars on a voluntary basis to help save lives and cut carbon emissions, according to a new report.

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

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

But campaign group Safe Speed warns against its use, saying it encourages drivers to enter a "zombie mode".

Ministers are planning to help councils draw up digital maps with details of the legal speed on every road.

The speed-limiting devices will then use satellite positioning to check a vehicle's location and when its speed exceeds the limit, power will be reduced and the brakes applied if necessary.

The Commission for Integrated Transport and the Motorists' Forum, which both advise the government, are calling on ministers to promote a wide introduction of the system.

Education 'important'

John Lewis, from the Motorists' Forum, told BBC Breakfast he believed the devices would help drivers obey limits and therefore keep their licences.

"But we believe that the system should be a voluntary system, that the drivers decide if they have fitted to their car or not, and that they decide if they want to over-ride the speed limit - that should be their choice," he said. There would also be a positive impact on emissions and fuel consumption, he added.

Jon York, fleet manager for British Gas, whose vans are already limited to 70mph, told BBC Radio 5 Live the system had reduced road incidents for the company.

But he said the introduction of technology had to be combined with safety education.

"It does aid road safety, it does reduce incidents, but it is part of a wide-ranging number of initiatives within British Gas and one of those is driver training because you have to change people's behaviour."

But Claire Armstrong, from the road safety campaign group Safe Speed, said that the devices could be dangerous.

She said truck drivers using speed-limiting devices had been shown to "go into fatigue mode or zombie mode" and stopped paying attention to the road.

"That makes it highly dangerous in those scenarios. So you've taken the responsibility away from the driver and that is not [good] for road safety."

Derek Charters, from the Motor Industry Research Association, believes limiting speed automatically could cause accidents.

"The last thing you need is one car to be overtaking and then pull back in, in front of the cars in front, because that braking event will then cause everybody to start to slow down, which will then compress the traffic, which then causes an incident."

Motoring journalist Quentin Willson said he also believed taking away driver control was a "really, really bad thing".

"Remotely policing the roads from satellites in the sky - I would worry about it an awful lot."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7803997.stm


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 14:17 
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Quote:
Speed-limiting devices should be fitted to cars on a voluntary basis to help save lives and cut carbon emissions, according to a new report.

Voluntary? Ha Ha.

Quote:
The government's transport advisers claim the technology would cut road accidents with injuries by 29%.

Pure guesswork.

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

What, does it check the legality of traffic orders and signage?

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 14:35 
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What happens in roadworks? How much time will it take to co-ordinate the updating of all these devices so that the correct limit is always displayed!

With any luck the motoring public will show these voluntary devices the contempt they deserve. NU stopped their pay as you drive insurance due to lack of demand and fears of snooping so this voluntary speed limit thing will go the same way.

What would be fun would be to get people you know with 5 star ncap cars to get one of these and crash lots and then proclaim 'well i was driving at the limit so how could I have crashed?'. Previously safe drivers having lots of accidents would screw up their whole reasoning as they couldn't spout regression to the mean as being a reason either :twisted:


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 15:38 
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The Commission for Integrated Transport and the Motorists' Forum, which both advise the government, are calling on ministers to promote a wide introduction of the system.

If you look at this website:

http://www.cfit.gov.uk/mf/index.htm

you will see that the CfIT and the Motorists Forum are one and the same. One is just a sub-committee. You might like to look at the members.

Quote:
Ministers are planning to help councils draw up digital maps with details of the legal speed on every road.

The speed-limiting devices will then use satellite positioning to check a vehicle's location...


And now we see the true purpose of this system. Tracking and control.

Quote:
Jon York, fleet manager for British Gas, whose vans are already limited to 70mph, told BBC Radio 5 Live the system had reduced road incidents for the company.

So, he has a full ISA system does he? Tosh. He has 70mph limiters fitted on his vans. Totally different.

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 16:17 
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Same story with Safespeed ref on Ceefax.


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 18:59 
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Good job "British" Gas dont take their vans to the Continent where higher speeds are legal on motorways!
Track and trace so the Government can keep tabs on where you have been!!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!


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