Reports of “Brussels Big Brother Bid” to impose speed controls are inaccurate

Blog of the European Commission ^ | September 1, 2013

[JerseyanExile]

Reports in the press over the last day or two have suggested that the EU intends to bring forward “formal proposals this autumn” to introduce automatic speed controls -known as “Intelligent Speed Adaptation” or ISA, into cars. This is quite simply not true and the Commission had made this very clear to the journalists concerned prior to publication.

The Mail on Sunday for example (the only one of these articles online with no paywall), uses a quote from a Commission spokesman but chooses to leave out the first and most important sentence given to the paper’s reporter, which was this:

“The Commission has not tabled – and does not have in the pipeline – even a non-binding Recommendation, let alone anything more.”

The Daily Mail on Monday 2 September had the integrity to include this quote, but only at the end of an article confirming the incorrect slant that the Commission was proposing introducing the system. According to the Mail’s imaginative opening paragraph cars would be fitted with it “if Brussels bureaucrats have their way”.

The Sun On Sunday failed to use the quote above, which it had been asked to use, but stated that “motorists are set to be forced to have ‘Big Brother’ anti-speeding systems fitted in all new cars under EU rules”.

[rey]

I think we need this here. Why not? If they can limit the capacity of a weapon’s magazine or the caliber of said weapon, if they can limit the size of your soda, or the number of calories in a particular product, or a limit on how much you may make before your taxes change, or a myriad of legal limits set on a wide range of items and actions, why not the speed of your vehicle?

In fact, I think every piece of gun control legislation should have this rider attached to it to show how foolish such laws are.

[ken5050]

The mere idea of Mercedes, BMWs, and Ferraris with with speed governors maxed out at 70km is staggering...

[Venturer]

Proving once again that Journalists are not to be trusted.

I encourage anyone faced by a journalist and asked a question—either refuse to answer or say No comment.

I say this as one who has experienced it.

[Kip Russell]

The mere idea of Mercedes, BMWs, and Ferraris with with speed governors maxed out at 70km is staggering...

70 mph, actually...but your point stands.

[moovova]

“Meanwhile, in other news...”

“Unemployment is down after the government hires thousands of new highway workers. Many of the new employees can now be seen on our streets and highways, installing speed bumps every ten feet. The government has also promised increased hiring by tire and shock absorber companies as they hire additional workers to handle increased demand for new tires and shock absorbers.”

[old gringo]

these people that want speed bumps in front of their houses,i say just dig up the pavement,and leave it gravel like the old days.

[Moltke]

Back in the late ‘70s, US mandated speedometers didn’t scale above 85 mph. Didn’t slow down the car, but set a psychological barrier. Perhaps just as insidious.

[wbill]

even a non-binding Recommendation, let alone anything more

I'm not as familiar with European diplo-speak as I am with American. However, if this were said over here, I'd translate it as: "Hell, yes! We're thinking about doing it! We just haven't figured out a way to get away with it yet."