About Time! Speed Limit Detection on the Way

Have you ever been on a long road trip through unfamiliar territory only to realize you don’t know what the speed limit is because you haven’t been paying attention to the signs? Don’t worry, our friends in Germany are working on a system that detects the current speed limit electronically using an onboard camera.

The camera works in conjunction with a car’s navigation system to double-check if the sign it just read is accurate. That done, the car will issue an alert if drivers are going too fast. The kicker? Tap the cruise control and the car will be set to the official speed limit if you’re going too fast. Now the question is: Does the computer know about the 10 mph “safe zone“ our dads always used to talk about?

[Cars to Automatically Detect Speed Limit, USA Today]

Comments

Stupid, now my car is going to beep at me every time i go 66 in a 65!

I'd assume it could be turned off with the navigation system. if not you're right it would get annoying.

Wow. During construction season in Pennsylvania, that could prove a formidable task. Half the time I can't figure what the current speed limit is!

I would think it would allow the user to adjust its sensitivity. That is, the speed over the speed limit at which it kicks in.Considering how powerful and quiet the luxury cars which this will be used in are, I can see how it could be useful.

Also, to clarify, “our friends in Germany” refers to Siemens. Not to one of the German car makers.

Little by little FORCED speed control becomes a reality. Now it's even in our own cars. Pretty soon just let Big Brother drive for you.

Gee, if that's the case, why build cars that can go past 65 or 75mph? Just have every car automatically turn on cruise control when driving on the highway and we'll all be traveling at the same speed....how boring is that?

The features of the 58 Edsel are finally reaching mainstream production.The 58 had an optional speed alert system that caused the speedometer display to glow red when you exceeded a pre set (that you set) speed.Drop below it,and it would go out,exceed it again and it would light up again.
A feature that only was 50 years ahead of its time.....

That's a cool idea; I've frequently wished that somehow I could tell the cruise control to just follow the posted speed limits. (Of course, this should be strictly optional - the car should always do exactly what the driver tells it to do.)

You know people need to slow the heck down. What gives anyone the right to be doing 10-50 miles faster then the speed limit. I seriously think anyone breaking 100 should be have their license suspended instantly and the car impounded. This is nothing less then reckless endangerment and no one has the right to be going that fast. Driving itself isnt even a right. This also applies to motorcycles one single stunt on them on the street and they should be in jail and impound their bike. Stunt as in wheelies and other stupid things. If it aint safe to be doing then they shouldnt be doing it. Oh and raise the fines for throwing cigarettes out the windows. Its disgusting.

Hm, safey is key here, but should the car automatically slow down, and somebody is tailgating you, i forsee a rear end collision. R what you want to happen is way to damn strict, that would mean nearly everybody would get stuck without a car or license because nearly everybody speeds or has gone at least 100 at some point in time, i dont care what anybody says (i know i will get flamed for that but u know wat, i dont care) and if u dont like it R, then stay off the roads.

Folks, cruise control is the worst thing that has happened to car safety. Think: the driver gets more detached from the driving. On straight parts of the road, the driver is driving too slow, and causes congestion. In curves the speed is probably too high, taking in account a less attentive driver.

I bought a radar detctor, and my driving is now following: always 20mph over speed limit when nobody else is around. If I see a car approaching I slow down to 10 mph, to be safer, and to reduce the risk of a speeding ticket incase the other car is a cop. The controversial about my speeding, is that I always slow down for curves and roadwork, whereas many cruise control men and women drive at constant speed, for worse or for better. I'm safer than Them!

This device could prove overly dangerous for people in wintery/snow covered regions. Many people do not realize that Cruise Control is not intended for winter driving. This could cause more hassles than anything.

Hey sum dude and anyone who thinks they have the right to speed.. I seriously hope that you never get into a big accident. Speed limits are there for a reason. Yes impounding their vehicle and suspending their license is severe punishment but so is speeding over 100 that is insane. (I've only done it once and it was stupid, reckless and selfish) To anyone who speeds 20 over just because there are no cars .. what about that animal or obstacle around the bend over that hill.. at 75-100+ thats going to total most cars. Read up on crash impact data sometime.. double your speed more then doubles your impact energy. Its also only a suspension not a revocation its only temporary unless they are habitual just like drunk drivers. Oh and in reference to me staying off the road.. why should I give up my privledge of driving somewhere if I am the one obeying the laws.. Oh and to the cruise control yea I agree its asking for trouble. Its fully capable of being done but only if all the cars talked and with the vast year of cars its aint happening. (radar in the cars can help prevent the collisions due to someone in front slowly down suddenly.) Oh tailgating should also be a heavy fine and I dont mean the guy a more then a car length behind but still within the legal tailgating meaning.. I mean that jerk within a car length or even two if you are at anything about 45. If I remember correctly isnt it supposed to be 1 car length for every 10 mph. Along with the fact that I believe if you are tailgating you should be responsible for any and all damage to anything you hit beyond your insurance coverage. I dont care if the car you hit was only worth 500 if it costs 5000 to get him back on the road you owe him that for your blantant disregrad for the law and safety. (this of course barring anychance that it wasnt staged.) Course no one wants to take responibility for anything but they want to be able to do what they want. R

Some engineer (above my pay grade) should come out with a device that alerts drivers who are in the far left lane not passing anyone and/or who are driving below the posted speed limit in the far left lane.