Call for speed limiters on company cars

All fleet cars should be fitted with high-tech speed limiters according to an influential body that advises Parliament on road safety issues.

In a new report, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) is calling for the introduction of intelligent speed adaptation (ISA) systems that utilise GPS technology and speed limit databases.

The systems will also automatically reduce a vehicle’s speed in poor weather or at night. Whilst the driver can override the system in an emergency, an event data recorder logs every time this happens.

The calls follow 11 months of testing by the Department of Transport and PACTS director Rob Gifford says he believes the system could cut fatal accidents by 55%.

He said that ISA systems are still about 15 years away but fixed systems are already here and that all that is needed is for local authorities to provide the data on the exact locations of each speed limit change so a national database can be created.

The recommendation by PACTS is contained in its report, entitled Beyond 2010 - a holistic approach to road safety in Great Britain, which is to be sent to MPs, DfT officials and the Minister for Road Safety, Jim Fitzpatrick.