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Writer's picturePhilip James

UK Government Secretly Installs 'Mandatory' Speed-Limiters in All Cars Software Update for July Go-Live

If your car has recently had a software update check the terms and conditions about who has the right to use this new feature.


Drivers face driving law changes which will affect all cars from July as mandatory speed limiters are rolled out. Changes will come into force from July 6 and cars could be fitted with speed limiters that keep tabs on motorists Birmingham Live reports.


The intelligent speed assistance can automatically slow down a vehicle if a driver is exceeding the speed limit. The requirement comes into effect from July 6 with all cars with the facility needing to have the mandatory safety feature installed.


New European Union and Northern Ireland rules mean cars sold in the UK will be required to have ISA fitted, regardless of where the manufacture was. Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing, said: “While it might seem like an innocent change to the car’s set-up, doing so could have serious implications.


“A car is fitted with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems like ISA for a very good reason, and a manufacturer could take a very dim view of that technology being bypassed. You could very easily void a manufacturer’s warranty by doing so.”


Dr David Hynd, chief scientist at Transport Research Laboratory, said: “It stops me getting speeding fines. It saves me money on my fuel bill, which is always very welcome. But, best of all, it provides an extra set of eyes, which I find particularly helpful when I’m navigating new places, or the roads are busy.


“ISA gives me head space and that makes me a better driver. On a motorway, I use ISA in conjunction with cruise control, and have been pleasantly surprised by how much less tired I am after a long journey when using this system.”


The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has previously claimed new ISA technology would reduce crashes by around 30 per cent. Mike Hawes, president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said: “Some manufacturers have already been offering these technologies to consumers ahead of any regulations, including Intelligent Speed Assistance, and will continue to do so across the UK.


“With the heavily integrated nature of the UK and European automotive sectors, regulatory divergence is not advantageous for either party.” The Department for Transport says it keeps policies under review to help reduce casualties and it has commissioned research to look at the benefits and implications of these technologies in Great Britain and will provide updates in due course.


Any decision to mandate some or all these new technologies will require consultation and legislation to amend the GB type approval scheme.


The intelligent speed assistance:


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The way your comment that " Drivers face driving law changes which will affect all cars from July as mandatory speed limiters are rolled out. " is phrased implies that all cars will be affected.

This will only apply to new cars sold from July 6, new vehicles sold in the European Union and Northern Ireland will be fitted with intelligent speed assistance (ISA) to prevent accidents.

Although the UK has opted out, meaning it will not be a requirement on British roads, the technology will still be installed in most cars, and drivers can choose to switch it off on a daily basis. From this article which is more accurate than yours which seems to me to have been…

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