Speed Limiters Set To Be Introduced For Vehicles In The UK

Mandatory speed limiting technology looks set to be introduced in the UK for all vehicles sold from 2022.

The move comes after new rules were provisionally agreed by the EU. The Department of Transport said, whatever happens with Brexit, it was expected that the system would operate in the UK.

Road safety charity Brake has hailed the news as “a landmark day”, while the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has suggested the measure could save up to 25,000 lives within 15 years.

The Association of British Insurers believes that the move could see premiums reduced while the AA has expressed concern over the use of speed limiting technology.

Speed limiter devices use GPS data and sign recognition cameras to sound a warning and automatically slow a vehicle if it exceeds the limit.

Under the speed assistance system, it will be possible to override the speed limiter if drivers press hard on the accelerator.

The European Commission has approved safety measures including intelligent speed assistance (ISA), lane-keeping technology and advanced emergency braking.

EU Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska said: "Every year, 25,000 people lose their lives on our roads. The vast majority of these accidents are caused by human error.

"With the new advanced safety features that will become mandatory, we can have the same kind of impact as when safety belts were first introduced."

Other approved safety features include technology which provides a warning of driver drowsiness and distraction, and a ‘black box style’ data recorder in case of an accident.

Antonio Avenoso, ETSC executive director, said if the agreement is given the formal green light, it will prevent “25,000 deaths within 15 years of coming into force.”

AA president Edmund King said there was "a good case" for autonomous emergency braking in cars.

But he claimed the case for speed assistance technology was less clear, saying the correct speed is often below the speed limit, for example outside a school. He believed the system may lead to a temptation to travel at the top speed allowed.

Mr King told the BBC: "Dodgem cars are all fitted with speed limiters, but they still seem to crash."

The Department of Transport said, “These interventions are expected to deliver a step-change in road safety across Europe, including the UK."