Slowing Down the Speed Merchants

Excerpt

I don't know what your doctor or pharmacist might recommend for ear ache, but the friendly mechanic in the authorized repair shop for a well-known make of car from Wolfsburg in Germany had a solution that was both simple and effective: "Switch it off! People often ask us about that and we'll be happy to do it for you." He was talking about the irritating warning sounds that bombard the ear drums of innocent drivers if they fail to fasten their safety belts and put their foot on the brake pedal before switching on the ignition. Anyone who feels that this infuriating function is taking the control of individual freedoms too far will soon find that things can only get worse. The latest legislation will give car computers new big-brother-style powers. Regulation (EU) 2019/2144 of the European Parliament and of the Council requires vehicles in classes M and N to be fitted with an intelligent speed assistance system from July 6, 2022, for new vehicle types and from July 7, 2024, for all new vehicles. …