Fitting speed limiters in new cars to stop them going faster than 70mph could increase, not decrease the risk of road accidents, according to total vehicle risk management solutions company Risk Answers.
They have found that speed limiters set at 70mph may encourage motorists to drive at the maximum speed as habit, becoming reluctant to reduce speed in anticipation of danger.
Risk Answers said it is inappropriate speed rather than high speed which is responsible for many road deaths. Operations director Chris Howell said: "With 75 per cent of all accidents occurring in a 30mph limit, why are we focussing our attentions on motorway speeds?"
Mr Howell identified acceleration as an important way of avoiding some accidents and said that instead of fitting speed limiters more could be done to raise awareness of the dangers of excessive speed.
He spoke as the House of Commons Transport Select Committee were told that speed limiters should be standard equipment on new vehicles, by Richard Brunstrom, national traffic spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers and chief constable for North Wales.
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