Shape of things to comeLondon to deploy satellite-based speed-control system
London buses, cabs, and government cars will be equipped with a satellite-based speed-control system: A centralized computer database will contain the speed limits on each of the city’s streets; a satellite will note the location of the GPS-equipped vehicles, and if the vehicle is going over the speed limit, the computer will seize control of the vehicle’s throttle, letting off the gas until it eases back down to the speed limit
Transport for London is announcing a large-scale trial of the Intelligent Speed Adaption (ISA) system, which uses preloaded road data and GPS to slow speeders. The Mail has assembled an infographic to explain how the ISA system works, but it is fairly simple: Cars are outfitted with computers loaded with speed limit data for public roads, and monitored via satellite. In “Advisory” mode, the dash readout indicates if you need to slow down, and smiles at you if you do. In the “Voluntary” mode, the computer will actually seize control of your throttle, letting off the gas until you ease back down to the speed limit.
Gizmodo’s John Herrman notes that a few crucial factors keep this system from being downright Orwellian: First, it is being deployed in London cabs, government cars, and buses, so it is not being expressly imposed on private citizens; second, the system is local — it reads its own GPS data to calculate speed and decides on a course of action without remote input — and has an override switch, which, if you have any experience with London cabbies, would probable get plenty of use.
Herrman concludes: “still, satellite speed control? That’s worse than speed cameras. And the mere existence of this technology — not to mention the government’s involvement in its development — certainly feels like a step in the wrong direction, even if this particular use is relatively benign.”
