Will new speeding computers be the limit for UK drivers?

Under the existing rules and regulations of the road, even the most careful and law-abiding motorist can turn into a speeding and dangerous motorist with just a second's lapse in concentration.

Indeed, it's far from unheard of that some even lose their licences as a result of being clocked at gong slightly over the speed limit one too many times, with the amount they were speeding by, time of day and conditions on the road not taken into account by any of the thousands of speed cameras dotted around the country.

Perhaps, therefore, the news that transport bosses in London are testing out new technology which makes going over the speed limit practically impossible, should be welcomed.

Currently being developed by Transport for London (TfL), the Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) enables drivers to select a route before setting off, with an on-board computer then factoring in the relevant speed limits along the way and limiting acceleration accordingly.

According to the team behind the initiative, the number of road casualties occurring in the capital could be reduced by ten per cent, while speeding points, penalty notices and fines would also be significantly reduced.

Chris Lines, Head of TfL's road safety unit, added to the BBC: "ISA is intended as a road safety device, but if Londoners embrace this technology we may well see additional benefits including reduced congestion as a result of collisions, and reduced vehicle emissions, as drivers adopt a smoother driving style."

While the technology is set to be trialled on buses and taxis first, it only seems a matter of time before normal motorists across the UK are being offered the option of reducing the risk of injury to both themselves and their bank balances.

It may seem that the boffins are on to a real winner here and are due to hit the jackpot as millions of drivers look to make speeding fines a thing of the past.

After all, who wouldn't want the stress of sticking to varying speed limits taken out of their hands?

However, there are plenty of examples which indicate that the opposite may well be the case.

For many motorists, the idea of futuristic cars that basically drive themselves are the things of nightmares.

As the British aversion to devices such as cruise control or even automatic gear sticks show, a significant proportion of drivers still want to be challenged when they get behind the wheel, rather than letting a computer get them from A to B.

And, with modern technology seemingly taking over most parts of everyday life, it may well be the case that motorists are happy to run the risk of a few penalty points in order to enjoy some old-fashioned driving, however stressful this may be.


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