Speed-limiting devices should be fitted to cars on a voluntary basis to help save lives and cut carbon emissions, according to a new report.
Speed-limiting devices should be fitted to cars on a voluntary basis to help save lives and cut carbon emissions, according to a new report.
The government's transport advisers claim the technology would cut road accidents with injuries by 29%.
The government's transport advisers claim the technology would cut road accidents with injuries by 29%.
The device automatically slows a car down to within the limit for the road on which it is being driven.
The device automatically slows a car down to within the limit for the road on which it is being driven.
But charity Safe Speed says the devices are dangerous because they encourage drivers to enter a "zombie mode".
You've taken the responsibility away from the driver and that is not [good] for road safety Claire ArmstrongSafe Speed
Ministers are planning to help councils draw up digital maps with details of the legal speed on every road.
Ministers are planning to help councils draw up digital maps with details of the legal speed on every road.
The system uses satellite positioning to check its location and when the speed exceeds the limit, power is reduced and the brakes are applied if necessary.
The devices will then use satellite positioning to check a vehicle's location and when its speed exceeds the limit, power will be reduced and the brakes applied if necessary.
It has been well-trialled, and the Commission for Integrated Transport and the Motorists' Forum, which both advise the government, are calling on ministers to promote a wide introduction of the system.
It has been well-trialled, and the Commission for Integrated Transport and the Motorists' Forum, which both advise the government, are calling on ministers to promote a wide introduction of the system.
The advisers believe it should be voluntary but say drivers who have tried it, liked not having to worry about exceeding the limit.
'Taking responsibility'
However, the BBC's transport correspondent Tom Symonds said the report is likely to be rejected by some motoring groups which believe the government overestimates the importance of speed in causing accidents.
The advisers believe it should be voluntary but say drivers who have tried it liked not having to worry about exceeding the limit.
But Claire Armstrong, from the road safety charity Safe Speed, told BBC Five Live that truck drivers using similar devices had been shown to "go into fatigue mode or zombie mode" and stopped paying attention to the road.
"That makes it highly dangerous in those scenarios. So you've taken the responsibility away from the driver and that is not [good] for road safety," she said.
Derek Charters, from the Motor Industry Research Association, also believes limiting speed automatically could be dangerous.
"The last thing you need is one car to be overtaking and then pull back in, in front of the cars in front, because that braking event will then cause everybody to start to slow down, which will then compress the traffic, which then causes an incident."
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