While there certainly are drivers who knowingly exceed the speed limit, many others aren't even aware that they're doing so. Given that using cruise control isn't all that practical when driving around town, Ford has instead introduced the Intelligent Speed Limiter. The technology will debut on the newest incarnation of the automaker's S-Max vehicle.
Drivers begin by activating the system and manually entering the maximum speed at which they wish to travel, using controls on the steering wheel. Should they subsequently start to exceed that limit, the system will slow them back down by electronically limiting the fuel flow – this is safer than simply applying the brakes.
Because the brakes aren't involved, however, this does mean that drivers could unintentionally start speeding when coasting downhill. If that does happen, they're notified by an audible warning. In the event that they do temporarily need to go faster, such as when passing another vehicle on the highway, the Intelligent Speed Limiter can be overridden simply by pressing firmly on the accelerator.
Given that posted speed limits can change within one trip, the system also utilizes a windshield-mounted camera that watches for road signs using Ford's Traffic Sign Recognition System. When a speed limit sign is spotted and read, the car's speed limit is adjusted up or down accordingly.
In locations such as rural roads, however, speed limits may not be posted all that frequently. Should that be the case, the Intelligent Speed Limiter can also obtain speed limit data from maps on the vehicle's navigation system.
More information is available in the following video.
Source: Ford
To actually limit the speed though, seems kind of lame. Give me full automation, or give me user-warnings. None of this middle-ground stuff for me.
Reminds me of the Space pen. NASA spent $4 million dollars developing a pen that would write in zero gravity. Don't get me wrong, it is a great pen. The russians used a pencil instead.
Rusty Harris 25th March, 2015 @ 07:49 pm PDT"
Rusty, considering that municipalities count on traffic fines (often to the detriment of safety), it's more likely that this technology will be banned.
And Voice of Reason is quite correct about reducing attentiveness of drivers- the next logical step will be to require autonomous driving systems, and banning human drivers...
The added features of audible warning and reading of speed limit signs is interesting, but as the article points out they are not 100% reliable; not even GPS systems cover ALL the roads and last-minute changes in limits. Drivers still cannot stop watching the road while driving.