The European Union and the UK have agreed that Automatic Speed Limiters will be mandatory on all new vehicles sold from 2022. Now, this isn't happening in the US as yet, but if it is successful in Europe in reducing road casualties, then expect every other country in the world to look closely at the technology. There's no indication as yet that it will be fitted to motorcycles, but how far is that away?

Your Vehicle Could Start Limiting How Fast You Drive

OK, before you all start panicking, this is happening in the UK and European Union. However, if it is successful in reducing road fatalities, then expect governments the world over to look closely at the technology with a view to introducing it as mandatory.

From 2022, all new vehicles sold in the EU and UK, will be fitted with Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), which is another way of saying 'automatic speed limiters'. It will work through the use of cameras, GPS and computers to impose limits to the power output of the engine as you approach a changing speed limit.

Due to be enforced from May 2022, all new cars, vans, trucks and buses will have to be fitted with the technology, although it won't have to be retro-fitted to older vehicles.

When the vehicle approaches an area with a speed limit, engine power will automatically be reduced, forcing the car to travel at the posted speed. It can be overridden by pressing the accelerator down fully, but this will be accompanied by audible and visual warnings.

Depending on the country where the vehicle is sold, the system might simply be advisory and will give warnings of exceeding the speed limit, whereas in other countries the system will reduce engine power to ensure you remain at the speed limit.

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) state that a ‘full on/off switch’ for the limiter should be included, but only to “aid public acceptance of introduction”. Reading between the lines, that means that such an option won't be permitted forever; at some point, we won't be able to turn it off at all.

Given that the technology is designed to protect vulnerable road users and motorcyclists fall into that category, motorcycles are exempt from the tech for the time being. However, that doesn't mean that bikes will escape indefinitely from the legislation. Just because the tech has not been fully developed yet for motorcycles, doesn't mean that someone, somewhere isn't working on it.

Even more worrying is the announcement that the European Transport Safety Council is mandating data loggers, lane assist, autonomous emergency braking and driver fatigue systems as well. The latter three are logical and understandable, but the 'data logger' bit is scary. What it means is that, if you're breaking the speed limit and the vehicle is telling you to slow down and you ignore it, the authorities will be able to access the data logger to give evidence against you in the event of an accident.

George Orwell must be lying in his grave saying, 'I told you so!'