UK Testing Intelligent Speed Adaptation Technology, Big Brother Future Near?

British public transport office Transport For London will soon kick off a six-month trial of a new system, called Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA), intended to electronically limit the speed of taxis, buses and government vehicles.

The technology is designed to monitor London’s posted speed limits, automatically limiting a vehicle’s ability to accelerate beyond that speed.

A slightly less Orwellian option available in the ISA system is a simple advisory mode, also monitoring the city’s speed limits, but doing no more than alerting the driver whenever the vehicle reaches the posted limit.

If the tests prove successful, it’s believed the ISA system will be made available to private motorists within the next 12 months, and Transport For London hopes that drivers will choose to install the technology of their own volition, in order to help reduce accidents and congestion on London’s already crowded roads.