Compulsory Speed Limiters On New Vehicles
Starting July 6, a new era of road safety is dawning in Britain as mandatory speed limiters become the norm in most new cars. No more fretting over speeding tickets or attending tedious speed awareness courses – your car will be your personal speed coach, ensuring you stay within the legal limits.
Another Measure By The Nannie State or The Future of Safe Driving
The intelligent speed assistance (ISA) system will be like having a friendly reminder onboard, nudging you to slow down if you’re exceeding the speed limit. Whether it’s a gentle beep, a subtle vibration of the steering wheel, or even an automatic adjustment of the accelerator, your car will help keep you on the right side of the law.
According to the European Transport Safety Council, ISA is projected to reduce collisions by 30% and fatalities by 20%, a significant leap towards safer roads. With 1,711 reported deaths in collisions on British roads in 2022, the implementation of this technology couldn’t come at a more crucial time.
While the UK government has opted not to mandate ISA, it will still be a standard feature in most new cars. Drivers can choose to disable it, but with the hassle of doing so every time they start the car, many may find it easier to simply embrace the technology.
Taxi Drivers One Step Ahead
What about the taxi drivers navigating the bustling streets of London? Fear not, as many are already familiar with speed-limiting devices. For them, it’s just another day in the cab, ensuring they stay within the confines of the law while ferrying passengers around the city. Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association believes that many cabbies implement a less sophisticated speed-limiting device so that,“If the limit is 20 miles an hour, press the button on the dashboard and the cab won’t drive any faster than 20mph, no matter how hard you push the pedal.”
Speeding offences in England and Wales have soared in the last 10 years. Home Office statistics stated that over 2.8 million speeding offences were detected in England and Wales in 2021. Many taxi drivers fear they will lose their livelihood if they are caught inadvertently driving at 25mph in a 20mph limit and receive three penalty points each time on their licence. And it’s not just taxis; buses are getting in on the action too. With half of Transport for London’s fleet already equipped with ISA, the impact on traffic flow is becoming evident.
So, get ready to embrace the future of driving – safer and certainly less speedy. While some will be frustrated by the enforced slowdown, many will embrace the benefits. Logic should dictate that the inconvenience will at least be compensated via reduced motor insurance premiums.
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