• Feb 9, 2008
In an effort to thwart habitual speeding, Transport Canada has developed a new system that can make exceeding posted limits difficult or impossible. The device utilizes GPS and a speed limit map coupled with technology that caps a vehicle's top speed based on the legal speed of the road being traveled. Once the vehicle arrives at the predetermined speed limit, the device makes it very difficult to go any faster. For now, Canada is looking to slap this stingy speed governor on the vehicles of perpetual speeders and reckless drivers, but the technology could one day be used for all drivers. Lovely.

Luckily for drivers here in the States, a strict speed limit governor is just un-American, and legislators know it would be very unpopular politically suicidal to implement. Still, we're sure there'd still be some people willing to embrace technology like this. Heck, a lot of parents of 16 to 18 year-olds probably wouldn't mind purchasing this device to keep their teenagers in check.

[Source: Winding Road]

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      • 6 Years Ago
      This is nonsense for cryin out loud!!!

      I would seriously consider about moving to another country if this was the case. Limiting how I drive??? Comon now, they just have to face the facts that it's not speeders only that make the roads unsafe, I'm not saying that speeders don't have a part, but comon limiting my speed that's nasty. + I think Canadian highway speeds are just too low @ 100, the avg highway speed tends to be arnd 120km/h. Honestly speaking.
      • 6 Years Ago
      The PC's in the current government would probably find this anathema to their Alberta-based smaller government philosophy. I used to live in the Lake BonaVista neighborhood, and consequently, I have a small amount of insight into how these guys think. Methinks Transport Canada will find a budgetary crisis in their near future, making implementation of this draconian device moot. This even finding usage in the big rigs is unsettling, but almost everything that comes from the White House and the so-called "Patriot Act" is equally surreal, so who knows what our "protectors" will come up with next? My dual citizenship was once my ace in the hole, but actions like this make me wonder what direction my home country is going. But, long -term, the approach to governing of the Canadians is far superior to the greed-based corporate domination of America, so I would still bet on their common sense to prevail in the end.
      • 6 Years Ago
      Driving at a 100 km/h at certain times on the 400 series highways will get you cursed at, or worse, cause an accident. I remember when I was experimenting with the top mileage I could get on my car I was doing 100 km/h and big rigs were passing me.
      • 6 Years Ago
      I don't understand why some governments are so jealous to enforce their speeding laws. What's the percentage of traffic fatalities that result specifically from speeding? I suspect it's a pretty low number.
      • 6 Years Ago
      It seems like if the government really wanted to crack down on speeders they would require auto manufacturers to govern the top speed of their cars. Not that I would want them to, but I honestly dont see why they dont.
      • 6 Years Ago
      My 2.5 cents - Im not sure if this Exactly will fly. Why? What about all that LOST REVENUE???!!!

      Hello? Speeding & many trafic tickets are a Huge source of $$$ Revenue which the state & officers rely on to meet their quotas = lost revenue & cops loosing their jobs?

      However, I do see an electronic vehicle Disabling system coming in the near future. (Dear Lord I hope I am wrong!)

      This device will enable enforcement to zap a violator & bring them to a crawl & avoid HI-Speed chases. I can therefore see older hi performance vehicles to appreciate in value if they do NOT have this device factory installed.

      Why the 80/20 rule where the most of us suffer due to an insignificant foolish minority? :(
      • 6 Years Ago
      ^ Yup, there's no way that this will ever be a mandatory device on vehicles.

      If the government REALLY wanted to crack down on speeders, they would give the Police forces more funds for recruitment and policing vehicles. In my community south of Toronto, there is only 3 police cruisers for 3 towns.
      • 6 Years Ago
      I love this idea. Think about it.

      1.) If cars can't exceed the speed limit there would be no reason for speed traps or traffic cops.

      2.) How long to do think it would take clever individuals to hack this system?

      Therefore: I get to drive around in my hacked car at any speed I want because there are no traffic cops!!

      • 6 Years Ago
      But the speed limit is 100Kph! Why would they limit the top speed to 105??? Because they are a bunch of idiots. Des idiots je dis! Pis la limo de la ministre se fait poignÃ© a 130+ Voyons donc mon Bob. Qu'ils se servent donc de leur tÃªtes!
      • 6 Years Ago
      Take a chill pill.

      GPS devices are easily defeated. As soon as they come into play somebody is going to make a thin metal cover for the antenna in a matching hue. Slip the little cover on, GPS is dead. They can't automatically shut the vehicle down if signal is lost because there are too many places where that can happen naturally. With a little more thought active jamming devices can be built but if too powerful will jam nearby devices.

      Anyway, don't get your knickers in a knot. Let them impose the devices, lay off all the cops giving tickets then once you have the devices neutered you can drive as fast as you want without anyone to stop you!

      See technology in the right hands can be great!
      • 6 Years Ago
      I know, what I meant to say is that a speed limiter is not necessarily a bad idea on principle alone (for example, a 100mph limiter that does not restrict normal driving).

      A 62mph limiter only makes sense for commercial truck applications, as is being proposed.
      • 6 Years Ago
      The QuÃ©bec government recently passed (or at at least attempted, I can't remember) a bill to electronically limit the speed of big rigs to 105 km/h.

      Hopefully by the time this thing becomes mainstream, self-driving cars will be around to take away the pain or humiliation.
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