Big Brother alert: UK testing out Satellite enforced speed limits

The United Kingdom has long been commandos in terms of cutting-edge technology implementation in the automotive world, what with having extensive camera enforcement for example — often ending up overseas years later.

Now, there's a new stretch--satellite-enforced speed limit "trials" which basically have a tracking device that do the following--(From the National Motorists Association site):

Drivers could have their speed controlled by satellite to stop them from breaking the limit following a Government trial of new technology.

Cars fitted with the system would have their speed automatically monitored by satellites, which would also be programmed with the speed limits for different roads.

A motorist who tried to accelerate beyond the speed limit would find the system stopping the car from going any faster or issuing a warning instructing them to slow down.

Yes, you heard it. Control from "space". Basically, there are three different variations:

The first, known as “advisory”, would stop short of actually slowing the car down and would instead issue a voice alert reminding the motorist what the speed limit is.

A second version would either apply the brakes or cut the fuel supply to the engine, slowing it down to the speed limit, but a driver would be able to override the system – either by depressing the accelerator pedal firmly or pressing a button.

The third would take over complete control of the car and the driver would not be able to override the system at all.

Nice, huh? While the idea is that this would be "voluntary", to me, while it's definitely a safety bonus, having this type of control leads to many different issues--privacy, for one, because then with these satellites suddenly you have an idea where every one is at every time. Not good.

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Big Brother alert: UK testing out Satellite enforced speed limits

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