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Australia, UK To Test Vehicle Speed-Limiting Devices

Posted by Soulskill on from the sounds-like-a-great-prank-device dept.

nemesisrocks writes "The New South Wales government is set to begin testing a device that will limit the speed of drivers because 'excessive speed is one of the primary ways that people are killed while driving.' Located on the dashboard, it senses a driver's speed with the use of GPS. If the speed of a car goes over the posted legal limit, a warning sounds. If the driver ignores the warning, the device eventually cuts all power to the car because a cut-off switch has been installed between the accelerator and the engine." The Times Online reports that the same system will be tested in the UK this summer for use in taxis and buses.

3 of 859 comments (clear)

  1. That's strange.. by Pvt_Ryan · · Score: 5, Informative

    UK government official figures show speed is only the causing factor in 5-7% of all accidents.

  2. "Cuts power" not "cuts all power" by Sockatume · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you read the article, you'll see that it limits the engine's available power so that it can no longer go over the limit. It doesn't cut off the engine, or for that matter the battery.

    --
    No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
  3. Re:All I have to say is... by Asic+Eng · · Score: 5, Informative
    ... what could possibly go wrong?

    If implemented as described in the article: not much. With "cut power" they actually mean "limit power to reach only the maximum allowed speed" and you can override it if you wish. (Emergency transport to the hospital, speed limit out of date etc.)