Limiters get thumbs up

As if speed cameras weren’t enough the Government is now looking to install automatic speed restrictors to limit how fast we can go.

A team from Leeds University has been running a trial of the ‘intelligent speed adaptors’ in Leeds for the last six months with a small group of cars and they reckon the units are a good idea.

The satellite controlled device monitors your speed and compares it against it’s own digital map of speed limits. If you go too fast it either applies the breaks or lets off the throttle.

Although the trial did not include bikes, fitting the device on a motorcycle could have major implications for safety if, for instance, power was cut mid corner. This could seriously affect the stability of the bike.

Ken Livingstone’s Transport for London has already suggested offering a discount on the congestion charge to anyone using the device.

The Government has said it does not plan to make the devices compulsory but has already started to look at creating the nationwide digital map of speed limits used to run it.