A time will come where derestricted autobahns, open throttle engines, hairpin turns, oversteer, understeer, burn outs, free revving engines and free flow exhausts among others will be a thing of the past. If you ever live to see that day, you have my sympathies. Electronics, computers, gadgets and engineers are fucking it all up for us petrol heads. Our kind is going to be cornered into some deep dark room in the middle of nowhere worshipping different kinds of engines.
That day is coming fast my friends for I bring news that ignites the start of our sorrows; GPS systems that prevent us from speeding.
A body called Transport for London which is responsible for the Underground, bus and river bus network has put an RFP for a company that can make an Intelligent Speed Adaptation system. And there are already vehicles out there on a trial run. Soon, every government in the world would want to adopt this system.
The device works by first knowing where the vehicle is, and what the speed limit in the area is. It works in the exact same way the Nissan GT-R knows when it’s on a track and removes the speed limiter but this will work in reverse. The car, YOUR car, will know when it’s in a 60km/h zone and will work to stop the driver from going above the limit. Although it won’t exactly be like I, Robot (above), but not for long.
It is said that in the beginning, the system would only vibrate the accelerator pedal, or make an annoying beeping noise to let the driver know when he/she is speeding. Something like how a Volvo does when there is a vehicle in the driver’s blind spot.
Currently there are no plans for the system to take complete control of the car, but it should be noted, that if there are already such systems in place, it would only be a matter of time before your car will be driving you.
I am with you when it comes to safe driving and I also agree that technology, to a certain extent, should be used to keep people safe. This is where things start getting interesting; with satellite’s monitoring where you are and if you’re within the speed limit, do you know who’s watching the satellite’s? We could soon be getting tickets for doing 63 in a 60-km/h zone. Money-making ploy? Really? You think so?
Well, I said it before, and I’m saying it again, the fewer electronics in your car, the better. I call for automotive democracy.
