Speed Limiters Are Now Mandatory in Europe

Big Brother WILL Slow Your Car Down – it’s the Law!

Imagine you’re cruising down an empty street late at night, only to find your car suddenly cutting power to slow to the posted 20mph limit. Sounds like something out of a dystopian sci-fi, right? Well, brace yourselves because from 7 July 2024, all new cars sold in Europe are now equipped with Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) technology – that’s a speed limiter to you and me!

What’s the Deal with Intelligent Speed Assist?

Let’s break it down. The European Union has mandated that all new vehicles must come with speed limiters designed to prevent speeding. The UK, despite Brexit, is set to follow suit.

This technology, known as ISA, uses a combination of GPS data and traffic sign recognition cameras to determine the speed limit on any given road and ensures your car doesn’t exceed it.

“From 7 July 2024, all new cars sold in Europe will be equipped with Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) technology.”

Now, we’ve had speed alerts for ages – those annoying beeps or pedal vibrations when you’re going too fast. But this? This is the real deal. Your car’s power will actually be cut if you try to go over the limit.

Picture this: you’re on the motorway, hitting a smooth 70 mph, and suddenly your car slows down because it thinks you’re in a 30 mph zone due to a misread sign. Yikes!

“Yes, you can override the ISA temporarily. If you push the accelerator hard enough, the system will allow you to exceed the speed limit for a short period.”

Can You Override It?

Here’s where it gets a bit controversial. Yes, you can override the ISA temporarily. If you push the accelerator hard enough, the system will allow you to exceed the speed limit for a short period – useful if you need to overtake or avoid a hazard.

However, this isn’t a permanent fix. Every time you start your car, the limiter re-engages, and you’ll have to disable it again. Now you can switch the system off. But how manufacturers will allow you to do this will range from straightforward buttons on the steering wheel, to settings buried deep in the car’s infotainment menu system.

Why All the Fuss?

Proponents of this technology, like the European Transport Safety Council, argue that it could reduce collisions by 30% and fatalities by 20%, pushing us closer to the ambitious goal of zero road deaths by 2050.

Noble? Absolutely. But let’s be real – it’s not without its flaws.

Imagine relying on a system that occasionally misreads speed limits. This could lead to frustrating and potentially dangerous situations, especially in areas with poor GPS signals or obscured road signs. Plus, there’s the worry that drivers might become too dependent on these systems, losing their edge and awareness on the road.

The Bigger Picture

So, what does this mean for us in the UK? While the government hasn’t officially mandated the same regulations, it’s likely we’ll see these changes implemented anyway.

Car manufacturers will probably standardise the technology across their models to avoid the hassle and cost of creating different specs for different markets.

“This technology, known as ISA, uses a combination of GPS data and traffic sign recognition cameras to determine the speed limit on any given road and ensures your car doesn’t exceed it.”

While the goal of enhancing road safety is commendable, the introduction of speed limiters is bound to stir up a mix of support and criticism.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Do you think speed limiters are a step in the right direction, or just another way for Big Brother to keep tabs on us? Drop your comments below and let’s get the conversation rolling!

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