Leeds uni are conducting an experimental system which will not let a car fitted with it go over the speed limit. It uses GPS, and road sensors to determine the speed limit within the area you are driving, then restricts the speed accordingly...no matter how far the pedal is depressed (there was an override button on the steering wheel). 80 people trialing the system around Leeds.

The one of the donor vehicles...a Fabia Estate :eek:

Maybe the override buttonn is for vRS owners only.

I'd actually like one of these devices, assuming it can be turned off/overridden in emergency. Sometimes you need to accel v quick to escape danger, that will momentarily take you over the limit...oh and private roads of course...

I'm all for traffic calming in towns but I've not read anything yet, on the way the system behaves in the transitional periods between going from a higher speed limit into a slower one.

picture the scene.....

national limit...overtaking juggernaut at 70mph...on comming traffic..but you've got enough room to overtake....er so you think...cross into a 30mph zone, car de-accelrates...you panic...head on collision...extreme yep...possibility maybe?

Yes the system can be overidden BUT, as Dirty Harry said " in all this confusion...." not everyone will remember to "press the button".... Ahh but you cry, then they shouldn't be overtaking...hmmm where will it stop, and to think that 120 years ago they thought you would suffocate over 30mph...

i saw this on the news too, and think it is bloody ridiculous. Whats next barcodes on humans??? All becoming slaves to the machines. The future for modern cars is bleak.

I saw this on the news as well. I wonder if the cars were all Fabia Combis coz apart from the 'main' silver one , they interviewed some boffin or other , and he was sitting in the boot of a blue Fabia combi.

The morning news on Radio 4 today, said that the devices had been fitted to "Skoda" cars for the trial, so maybe they are...

All Skoda Combi's that is...

Saw the report and noticed the Fabia:cool:

Any system like this is dangerous, for resons such as that already said. It will be a very long time (hopefully) for these things to become compulsory. More likely is an optional scheme, so only careful drivers would go for it anyway.

Drivers who totally ignore limits like doing 60 in a 30 should be tracked down but say doing 35 and getting done for that is a joke. Also 70mph limit on motorways is a joke, at least on quiet ones, should be changable limits according to conditions.

For the government and the cops, "Speeding" is just a cash cow and insist on brainwashing us into thinking we are criminals if we do 71mph on a empty road. Maybe they should put more effort into tracking down those without license/insurance etc and those who tailgate, but maybe that would involve a bit of work:mad:

I don't know... I could be tempted if the system had an array of neon lighting...

:mw::mw:

I would think these devices would be quite good assuming that they are allowed to be overidden. In the handbook for the Fabia it does say that an audible buzzer is fitted to some cars in certain markets so that if the car goes over 120 kp/h it goes off! I would certainly say that these should be fitted to the cars and compulsory to that of consitant speeders and those who have been convicted of dangerous driving in the way that drivers who have been convicted of drink driving in canada must have a breathalyser fitted to their cars ignition and must do a B-test before thay can go! Maybe i'd fancy one to relax and not worry about been caught speeding if I was in an unfamilier envirnoment!

Let's be fair this is never going to happen , because the Police get most of their revenue via speeding motorists , if nobody broke the speed limit they might have to go out and catch some proper criminals

Why are more and more speed cameras being put up in so called accident blackspots well it's not because of this trial , that's for sure .

The speeding motorist is the easiest person to convict and get a few koffers into the kitty and make the Police look as if they are doing their job .

Mellow

You're spot on , imagine all the traffic cops if the motorway was full of cars doing exactly 70 mph! They would soon be on the dole!

Originally posted by Neil RS in this post

Drivers who totally ignore limits like doing 60 in a 30 should be tracked down

Although that's assuming that the 30 is an urban area with

lots of small children and animals running about. If it's a straight

clear B-road in the middle of nowhere that was an NSL up until

3 weeks ago, you have to start wondering about the policies of

the powers that be.

I'm also not convinced by these "20 zones" and accompanying

speed hump outside schools. From what I can tell, kids are

in school during the day and out of it at night, with about an

hour each end for transition. So that's 2/24 (1/12) of the day

that there is a potential for kids to be running about, yet the

speed limits and obstructions are in place for the other 11/12

of the day. Also, in the real world, doing anywhere near 20 in the

2 hours when there is an abundance of children is nigh on

impossible, due to the high number of 4x4s and estates in the

way. And also lollipop persons guiding children across the road.

And no I'm not in favour of running over children, I just think

bit of common sense needs to be used every once in a while.

Rob.

I think, with a box o tricks like that, the speed limit past a primary school should be 15mph, at school opening \ chucking out times.

The rest of the time it can be a 30, and without humps!

due to the high number of 4x4s and estates in the

way.

I'll let that one slip, just this time!

Originally posted by Tavia4x4 in this post

I think, with a box o tricks like that, the speed limit past a primary school should be 15mph, at school opening \ chucking out times.

The rest of the time it can be a 30, and without humps!

So essentially this limiting device could be useful? Of course, it

would be much easier (and cheaper) if people just slowed down

anyway instead of needing a box to force them to do it.

Why limit it to primary schools? Surely at that age kids should be

carefully chaperoned by a responsible adult anyway? Mind you,

judging by the way most adults seem to cross roads, they might

be better off taking their chances on their own!

I'll let that one slip, just this time!

Being a 4x4 AND an estate, yours is particularly inconsiderate... :p

Rob.

My eldest starts school in September (sniff, sob, they grow so fast!) and will be *walked* to and from school, so the only inconsideration I will be showing is to the TT's on the way to work.

Black 225 coupe tried to beat me from some lights to a "two into one" lane this morning, either the k03 spools up quicker than the k04, or he just wasn't expecting it to be a problem to be ahead of me before they merged. Either way, he lost.

if it ever happens, I will finding a way to make sure that the bypass button is permanently pressed. it wont though because its just to dangerous like the motoring organisations have already said taking control away from the drivers.

..due to the high number of 4x4s and estates in the way.

That's a sweeping generalisation which is rubbish, Rob! . My 4X4 Turbo Estate is just 6mm longer than a 1.4/1.6/2.0/1.8T Hatch so the extra road space used is negligible. I spent over 2 years delivering Ford demonstrators and used aim to leave the depot (RAF Alconbury latterly) at 5am to get ahead of all the cars being driven by a single person on their way to work. At least school runs have 2 or more people in the car, which makes for more economical use of road space. If anything I would confine cars with only one occupant to the inside/nearside lane of dual carriageways and motorways - except for those I used to drive.... How's that for being reactionary?

BTW, are there any other estate owners out there who share my view that hatchbacks are neither fish nor fowl? (I guess they cater for the indecisive. Saloon or estate, Sir/Madam? I think I will have a little bit of each, please).

Time to take the dogs for their daily drive to the newsagent...........

umm, life's too short Denis?

I *like* the generalisation about estates, it means people see them and disregard them as a threat, like the TT this morning

Originally posted by DGW in this post

6mm longer than a 1.4/1.6/2.0/1.8T Hatch so the extra road space used is negligible.

I wasn't so much talking about road space as pavement space,

what with most school parking being done up the kerb!

BTW, are there any other estate owners out there who share my view that hatchbacks are neither fish nor fowl? (I guess they cater for the indecisive. Saloon or estate, Sir/Madam? I think I will have a little bit of each, please).

Would sir/madam like one's van with or without windows? :p

Rob.

Would sir/madam like one's van with or without windows?

As **** Emery used to say: "Oooh, you are awful! But I like you."

One question. If they are parked on the pavement, what's the problem for road users?

Originally posted by DGW in this post

One question. If they are parked on the pavement, what's the problem for road users?

It's hard to see round SUVs at the best of times, which is a bit

of a risk when there's other cars at busy junctions, etc. However,

cars are a lot bigger and easier to spot than SC&A, especially

when they have to cross the road between these behemoths and

in turn struggle to see round them.

So basically, they just get in everyone's way!

Rob.

Rob, have I ever held you up on a thurs night run?

:p

Only by being tardy...

Rob.

thurs night run?

Thought it was a drive, dam thats why I'm always at the back.

As for the school run - it adds 45 minutes to my journey in the morning to do the 3 miles (!!!) I have to do to drop of the Mrs at her work & escape Abingdon.

Diagonal parking skills spotted on a daily basis are excellent, and they do usually involve 4x4s, of the utility vehicle kind

Still - back on the original topic I'd say it would work if it was sensible. Problem is that it won't be for reasons already mentioned - money Shame as I'd love to see those blasted speedbumps removed. If you've ever driven a Rover 100 over a speedbump day in day out, you know what I mean :P