EU: Speed limiters will be implemented from 2022
The European Union has introduced new regulations under the EU’s General Safety Rule, meaning all new vehicles in the EU from July 6 must include Intelligent Speed Assist technology (ISA) to alert drivers of their speed. ISA technology uses both GPS data and traffic cameras to recognize traffic signs and monitor speeds.
The system can also reduce engine power and automatically slow vehicles to meet identified speed limits.
READ MORE: Brexit: Brexiteer wild EU over ‘terribly dangerous’ speed limiters
The EU hopes that the ISA technology will use 30% of car collisions in Europe and 20% of road deaths.
ISA systems can be disabled by the driver but will be automatically enabled each time the car is started.
Brexit means the UK doesn’t need to pass this new law, but Express.co.uk asked readers if they thought it was a good idea.
Speed limiters anger Britons – ‘Will not help road safety’ (Image: Getty)
In a poll that ran from Friday July 22 at 2 p.m. to Sunday July 24 at noon, Express.co.uk asked readers: “Should the UK follow the EU and apply speed limiters on all new cars?”
A total of 2,079 readers voted overwhelmingly, with 88% (1,837 people) answering ‘no’, the UK should not put speed limiters on new cars.
A further 11% (237 people) said ‘yes’ the UK should follow the EU and introduce speed limiters.
Only five people said they didn’t know anyway.
Dozens of comments were left below the accompanying article as readers shared their thoughts on the speed limiters being enforced in the UK.
All new vehicles in the EU from July 6 must include Intelligent Speed Assistance technology (Image: Getty)
Most readers were against the idea of introducing speed limiters with a single reader, username RY28, writing: “We Brexiteers should be free to drive at the speed we like.”
Some have argued that speed limiters could compromise safety on the road.
Username Justme.74 said, “Absolutely not. If you have to avoid a collision, with a speed limiter, you could be in trouble.
Username Justawought said: “The limiters could be more dangerous for motorists as sometimes it takes a bit more power to avoid an accident. A limiter leaves no room for this.
And username uncivilservant said: “No, nothing that takes control out of the hands of the driver should be fitted unless and until the manufacturers of such a device are held responsible for any incident resulting from their use.”
While username Jonha said, “We keep moving the goal posts around here and suddenly have lower speed limits on the roads, variable speed limits on the highways and when the many road works are put in place. square.
“No system will be able to cope with this. Someone driving at 20 mph when the limit is 40 mph (or even 30 mph) will not contribute to road safety.
Former MEP Ben Habib told Express.co.uk last week: ‘Leaving aside all the interference and micromanagement of our way of life, it’s a dangerous thing because drivers sometimes have to speed to get out troubles.
“They need to be able to pull away from a moving car, look in the rear view mirror if someone is approaching too fast, you may need to accelerate quickly to avoid being hit from behind.”
The Brexiteer added: “It’s terribly dangerous to put machines in charge of human behavior.”
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The most dangerous parts of the UK (Image: EXPRESS.CO.UK)
However, some readers argued that speed limiters would be a good addition to vehicles.
Username Grockle said: “Yes, provided drivers can go over the limit, briefly, on the rare occasions needed to get them out of trouble.
“The UK is full of idiots who won’t obey the speed limit. If they can’t maintain their own self-control, the rules will have to be enforced using technology.
Another reader, username Earlybird56, said, “Personally, I think this is a useful edit in some cases and can be disabled similar to the stop/start button.”
The Department for Transport (DfT) told Express.co.uk earlier this month that the new measures are not yet in force in the UK.
A DfT spokesman said: “The UK’s departure from the EU provides us with the platform to capitalize on our regulatory freedoms and make decisions that are good for Britain and benefit road safety.
“We are currently assessing which vehicle safety technologies are included in the EU General Safety Regulation and a decision will be made in due course on whether to impose any of these in Britain.”
Some automakers have already offered elements of ISA technology in their vehicles, and the AA has supported its introduction whether or not it becomes law.
