Automotive

New tech from Ford keeps you from speeding – if you want it to

Intelligent Speed Limiter won't let drivers unknowingly exceed posted speed limits
Intelligent Speed Limiter won't let drivers unknowingly exceed posted speed limits

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

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10 comments
Milton
One of my favorite features of the late Saab 95 I used to own was the audible "BEEP" warning at a user-set speed. I'm sure it's saved me from a lot of freeway speeding tickets.
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.
The Skud
I agree Milton - Easily managed speed warnings (pick 3 or 4 like radio station pre-sets?) are a better system in my book. I can see lawyers getting excited though when their cars are followed by 'normal' cars, rear-end collisions when the car suddenly slows are very possible!
P51d007
It's a "convenience" item now, but you can bet, it will be MANDATORY in the future.
nopria
I really would like to have this feature on my car.
EricJ
I have a Garmin Nuvi that displays the posted speed limit for most of the roads I drive. The speed display turns red when the posted speed is exceeded.
VoiceofReason
It's like my grandfather told me years ago. Nothing new under the sun. I had a 1970 Cutlass that you could just turn a special knob and if you went above that limit, it triggered an electric bell that chimed at you. Probably cost about $5 to build and install. This system I'm sure has thousands of lines of code etc.
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.
Aross
As interesting as all of these technologies are I worry that they are another reason why drivers are becoming less attentive behind the wheel. Staying attune to the fact that you are driving a car should be enough to avoid speeding and accidents. Having driven many hundreds of thousands of mile for over 50 years without an accident or a ticket is proof enough to me that that is all that is required.
4Freedom
I am one of the people that use my cruise control to maintain the speed limit. I like the idea of expanding on this.
Kpar
"It's a "convenience" item now, but you can bet, it will be MANDATORY in the future.
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...
mach37
What is this BS announcement? This system came factory-installed on my 2008 Escape. It functions exactly as described in the second and third paragraphs of this article, except for the audible warning; it is called "Cruise Control." I also had it on previous cars of other makes; almost forgot, the '88 Ford F150 I bought used a few years ago also had it.
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.