By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(April 8, 2015) Ford has introduced a technology that automatically adjusts vehicle speed to the prevailing limit. Called Intelligent Speed Limiter (ISL) by Ford, it’s already available on the European Mondeo (Fusion) and Kuga (Escape), and will be added to the new S-Max people carrier.

   ISL is activated via steering wheel buttons to set a maximum vehicle speed, and works from 20 mph to 120 mph. The system uses the collision avoidance system’s camera to read road signs and, when the posted limit is lower than the maximum set speed, it reduces fuel to the engine rather than apply the brakes. This makes for a smooth deceleration rate, though on downhill stretches where the vehicle can exceed the posted limit, an alarm is sounded to warn the driver he must brake to remain below the limit.

The system can be temporarily overridden by depressing the throttle, making it possible to accelerate out of potentially hazardous situations or to pass slower traffic. On long stretches where the road signs are spaced farther apart than normal, ISL uses the on-board navigation system to determine the correct speed for the stretch of road. And, yes, you have to order the navigation (and collision avoidance) unit to get the ISL system.

Speaking of which, the Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection system is capable of detecting pedestrians in the road, in clouding those who might cross the vehicle’s path, and automatically braking if the driver does not respond in time. Also available is a Front Split View Camera system that places a camera behind the grille to give a clear view at crossings.

With a One Ford policy that sees most Ford cars sold globally (the S-Max is not sold here), these technologies would be relatively easy to port to American Fords.

However, its need is great in the U.K. where the government has a wide array of speed cameras already in place, and is testing a new unit capable of monitoring four lanes of motorway at once. According to Ford, 15,549 U.K. drivers were issued fines of at least £100 ($150) in 2013, and German authorities issued speeding fines to an astounding 93,000 drivers in one 24-hour period during a speeding crackdown. Further, both countries have increased fines for speeding in the last two years, with U.K. drivers facing a maximum fine of £10,000 ($15,000) for exceeding the motorway limit.

And while that’s a lot of money, Finland, where speeding fines are linked to income, fined one driver an outrageous €54,000 (approximately $59,000) for traveling 64 mph in a 50 mph zone. That’s “revenue enhancement” gone mad.

The Virtual Driver