The Government is expected to open a consultation into plans for the UK to fall in line with European Union rules and mandate automatic speed limiters in new cars.

The Telegraph reports the consultation will look at a range of vehicle safety measures that reduce engine power or set off alarms if drivers exceed the speed limit. 

It says the measures would be introduced for safety reasons but are likely to be backed by environmental campaigners pushing for lower speeds to reduce emissions.

Intelligent speed assistance relies on a combination of GPS tracking and cameras on the vehicle to assess the local limit. The technology already exists in many cars on the road, but is not automatic.

(Picture – Yay Images)