Experts have warned that the system could fail when there are temporary speed limits or fuzzy road signs that could force drivers to speed unintentionally if they rely on the built-in ISA device. However, manufacturers such as Citroen, Ford and Jaguar have already begun to incorporate the technology into some of their cars. Greg Smith, a Tories member of the Commons Transport Selection Committee, warned that enshrining speed limiter requirements in legislation would be “completely unnecessary”. “We have an established system of people taking driving tests, understanding the law, proving they can drive properly and then trusting them to do so, with harsh penalties if they do not,” he said. “Anything that then seeks to create more distrust of the state of its citizens, so that they are able to do what is reasonable, legal and practical, is just an unnecessary nanny.”

“Speed ​​limits must be absolutely accurate”

Edmund King, president of AA, warned of chaos if speed limits were changed on the roads and the system was not updated. He said: “Speed ​​limits must be absolutely accurate because the car reacts to the speed limit. “If you have the wrong speed limit on the digital system, it can slow you down to the wrong speed or allow you to accelerate to the wrong speed.” Following pressure from carmakers, the EU is easing plans to make the stricter ISA system mandatory, which reduces engine power once the speed limit is reached. Such a system, which can be bypassed for a short time by a driver who presses hard on the accelerator, has been shown to reduce road accident deaths by up to 20%. The UK Vehicle Certification Authority has previously stated that it intends to reflect EU rules on post-Brexit vehicle safety standards. The Ministry of Transport said no decisions had been made on safety regulations to be followed by the UK, but industry experts said deviating from EU rules would be disastrous for manufacturers. “The UK’s withdrawal from the EU provides us with the platform to take advantage of our regulatory freedoms,” said a spokesman for the department. “We are currently reviewing the vehicle safety provisions contained in the EU General Safety Regulation and will apply requirements that are appropriate for the UK and improve road safety.”

The “would be bad for the industry” divergence

Mike Hawes, CEO of the Society of Motoring Manufacturers and Traders, hailed the move to further improve the UK record as it has some of the safest roads in the world. “SMMT and its members look forward to contributing to the UK Government ‘s consultation on how to implement these measures in this country,” he said. However, he added that deviating from EU regulations would be bad for the data industry in the close links between the two. Highways England, now known as National Highways, published a report last year stating that 30 areas of its road network had legally unsafe levels of nitrogen dioxide. It led police to impose speed limits of 60 mph on an “unspecified” basis, including the M1 from junctions 34 to 33 in South Yorkshire and the M6 ​​near junctions six to seven in the West Midlands. Drivers face a fine of £ 100 and three penalty points if caught for exceeding the limit on these trips. The changes were introduced last summer for the “predictable future” a year after a Highways England test. Research from Imperial College London has found that lower speed limits do not increase emissions, while offering “clear benefits to driving style and related particulate emissions”. In a separate analysis, Transport for London was satisfied that the lower speed limits “would not have a negative impact on the environment or air quality”. Speed-powered gasoline cars burn more fuel and produce more pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, according to a Canadian government analysis.