Getting Harder To Speed

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Canadian auto regulators are testing a system that would enforce speed limits by making it harder to push down the car's gas pedal once the speed limit is passed, according to a newspaper report.

The system being tested by Transport Canada, the Canadian equivalent of the U.S. Department of Transportation, uses a global positioning satellite device installed in the car to monitor the car's speed and position. If the car begins to significantly exceed the speed limit for the road on which it's travelling the system responds by making it harder to depress the gas pedal, according to a story posted on the Toronto Globe and Mail's Website.

The pilot test, using 10 cars driven by volunteers, is believed to be the first in North America, although similar systems have been tested in several European countries, according to the newspaper.

The agency is also testing another system that warns drivers with a voice alarm and a light whenever they start to speed, the newspaper said. Those systems are already on sale, according to the report. The company that makes the alarm device, the Otto Driving Companion, has already sold 400 of the units in Winnipeg alone, the newspaper said.

[jiggysubman]

I can't even begin to debate what kind of privacy issues this brings up.
On a possible plus side, you could use the old "gps speed regulation made me late for work" trick.

[Brucelee]

In a collectivist society, the only privacy you have is the one that pols and bureaucrats let you have. This suprises me not one whit about Canada. Not to pick on them, but this sort of behavior is commonplace in a socialist society.

Not that I endorse speeding. But imagine if you will, if the govt put the same zeal into capturing and punishing violent criminals. Instead, they take the easy way out and target drivers, who as we know, are a much steadier source of income AND an easier group to manage.

Now, don't get me started.

[Biz-z Z]

As Mr. Heston would probably say, the only way they’ll get my non-GPS-speed-regulated Porsche is to pry it from my cold, dead hands!

[blinkwatt]

Right leg work outs here I come.

[Brucelee]

If that ever came to pass here in the US (doubt it would) I would figure out how to disable this device or buy an older car.

Man, does this piss me off.

[Brucelee]

I wonder if these guys take cases in Canada?

http://www.cir-usa.org/mission_new.html

[Ronzi]

Judas priest, what will the pols think of next?
I drove a rental moving van one time that had a governer on it, restricting the speed to 60 or so as I recall. I thought it was the most unsafe vehicle I had ever driven, even on the interstate.

[Rail26]

The 987 has a on board speed limit you can set in the computer. When you go above that speed, a circle appears around your speed and you get an audio chirp. It has been very handy coming rocketing off the On-ramp to the highway, for some reason, my foot is calibrated to 100mph.

Speed doesn't kill, one handed cell phone, latte drinking, screaming kid, soccer moms kill. You can put that in your rucksack and hump it or take it to the bank and cash it...I'm out of sayings. Toodles.

[asnigro]

"Right leg work outs here I come."

My thoughts exactly, time for the squats and calf raises!

[threpwood]

Next thing they will do is implanting a chip on our head? Free safety driving lesson works better than this IMO

[wild1poet2]

This will never be implemented. Police unions will oppose it and local governments will face budget deficits.

Al Cowlings actually had a beta prototype of this system in his Bronco when he and OJ make a break for it.

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

Truth is local Municipalities are Budget-Strapped and it won't be long before there's a Speed Camera at every intersection. Lots of $$ for initial Purchase, but then they'll pay for themselves in no time, and, cheaper than a Cop and no Pension. They'll be phased in at 1st at troublesome Intersections, which no one will object to, and then they'll spread.

Some will say that this is illegal, but laws can be (and are) ammended in the interest of Public Safety.

We have a Sign on the Expressway outside Twin Cities Int'l Airport encouraging Citizens to Cell-Phone in any suspicious behavior to the Authorities (yet they don't define what comprises Suspicious Behavior). These poeple have no right to act as Law Enforcement, but there it is. Not to mention that just typing the words al Quada here, I've just blipped the NSA's computer - Thanks Georgie!

Even if many Citations are contested in the courts, the majority of people will just go ahead and pay the fines and many others will see it as a Good Thing. No, I'm afraid the days of Carefree Motoring are quickly coming to an end - enjoy them while you can...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[rbennett]

Or how about the liability? Who pays when someone hits the "I was trying to outrun this serial freak and he cought up to me" question.

[RandallNeighbour]

I asked my buddy, who owns a 2004 GMC four door pickup truck, if he ever topped out the truck to see how fast it would go. He said, "It's got a governor on it. It hits 95 and won't go any faster, even downhill."

This is probably smart for this vehicle. It sure ain't made for high speed turns, that's for sure. But, it does go to prove that the US auto makers are already doing it. They could easily start doing it on passenger cars.

What am I saying? My Lexus LS400 has a nice top speed, but it is limited to 142 or something like that. No wonder I rarely saw one on the autobahns of Germany.

I am doubtful that would be done on sports cars though. That would kill sales. Americans love their freedom, whether they exercise it or not.

[airboxster]

Hey, I live in the Toronto area. We already have a toll road that use car mounted transponders to automatically track when you are on and off the toll road. You then receive a bill in the mail. Without the transponder you are charged an extra $2 off and on with a license plate photo. Not too hard for them to do the math and figure out how fast you are going. But they don't. They use regular police patrol, and standard radar. Why you ask? About 8 or 9 years ago we had a provincial government (like your state government) that instituted mobile photo radar. Quite a money grab. That government was defeated in the next election with one of the oppositions best promises; get rid of photo radar. The voters spoke. Our public transport stinks. We don't have enough multi-lane highways. Interestingly enough our main Toronto Porsche dealer is right off this toll road and always uses it for your test drive. That's where I first drove my Boxster S. Luckily no tickets.