Calls for 'speed-limiting' cars

[KentPhilip]

These minimum speed boxes. I wonder whether you could hack their firmware so they regard the limit as a minimum rather than maximum speed. "Sorry officer, couldn't slow down to 30, so had to stay at 55"

[threaded]

Actually it is one of these EU things. Lately the EU have been getting the individual states to put the loony stuff forward as they felt the EU project was getting negative publicity. Similar new reports are all over Europe these last few days. Got one in Denmark too.

Anyways speed: if you look into it, and I mean really look into it like actuaries look into it, then the most statistically significant thing in car accidents is the amount of facial hair one of the drivers has. Speeding comes way down the list. So if they really wanted to cut down on accidents then they'd ban people who don't shave from driving.

But they don't, they just want to raise more tax.

[PM-Junkie]

I already have a speed limiting device.

It's called a Renault

[PAH]

What happens when roads cross over each other - bridges for example - all of a sudden you're doing 70 and then the brakes slam on because you've just gone over/under a road with a 30 limit? Or you have roads close to each other with different limits? Or you drive pass side roads with different limits?

Indeed. I loaded a speed camera database onto my TomTom. Bleeding useless. The number of times it warned about cameras that were on roads nearby that I couldn't even get to if I wanted.

[PAH]

These minimum speed boxes. I wonder whether you could hack their firmware so they regard the limit as a minimum rather than maximum speed. "Sorry officer, couldn't slow down to 30, so had to stay at 55"

If it could enforce a minimum speed I'd donate a few quid to get the slow coach party teched up with them.

The number of times I've had to overtake someone dawdling at 40 in a 60. Only then for me to come across someone doing 30, with a few cars patiently sat behind them, as the gimp I overtook a few minutes ago slowly catches us all up.

Too many tortoises and not enough hares about.

[deano]

Personally I’d love a car that braked for me. In fact I want it to brake, accelerate, monitor the vehicle in front and obstructions in the road, steer and prevent lane drift. In fact I want a car that takes me from A to B and does everything for me, whilst I sit and read the FT for cheap bargains and sip tea. A light chiming noise when arriving at B would be good as well.

James May tested one in California on one of his Big Ideas programs a few weeks ago. I say bring it on.

[gingerjedi]

Personally I’d love a car that braked for me. In fact I want it to brake, accelerate, monitor the vehicle in front and obstructions in the road, steer and prevent lane drift. In fact I want a car that takes me from A to B and does everything for me, whilst I sit and read the FT for cheap bargains and sip tea. A light chiming noise when arriving at B would be good as well.

James May tested one in California on one of his Big Ideas programs a few weeks ago. I say bring it on.

A taxi?

[deano]

A taxi?

God no! Why on Earth would I want to share my journey with anyone. A chauffeur with one of those partitions would be acceptable, providing they were instructed not to try to communicate with me at all.

Besides, such things as taxi's and chauffeurs all cost money. I want it to be my own vehilde that vbasically drove itself, containing me and no-one else but me. Except the family when I let them in.

[chicane]

A taxi?

Most taxi drivers round here have got the hang of "brake" and "accelerate" - it's just the other things mentioned that seem to elude them.

[PAH]

Personally I’d love a car that braked for me. In fact I want it to brake, accelerate, monitor the vehicle in front and obstructions in the road, steer and prevent lane drift. In fact I want a car that takes me from A to B and does everything for me, whilst I sit and read the FT for cheap bargains and sip tea. A light chiming noise when arriving at B would be good as well.

James May tested one in California on one of his Big Ideas programs a few weeks ago. I say bring it on.

Top Gear also had a beemer that could drive itself around their track once it'd learnt the way using GPS.

I wonder if we'll be able to use them to drive us home from the pub. One less thing we'll need women for!