GPS speed control for your auto

GPS speed control for your auto

There is an article in today’s Globe and Mail about a GPS enabled technology being tested by the Canadian government. They are testing a device that can be installed in automobiles using GPS and traffic maps to determine if a car is speeding. If the car is speeding the device makes it difficult for the driver to press down on the accelerator. The Canadian government is looking at this as a safety device, and as a method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (the slower you go the less emissions). It does not sound like the Canadian government is considering requiring these devices in all cars, but possibly allowing insurance companies to offer discounts to those who do have them. The article includes discussion of a similar device that does not forcefully prevent the driver from accelerating further, but gives a visual and audible warning. The Otto Driving Companion is already commercially available for drivers in Winnipeg and Ottawa with plans to expand to other Canadian cities in the near future. For more information on Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) visit the Department of Technology and Society at Lund University.