From David Andrews
I recall many years ago reading a futuristic article about cars on motorways.
In this article, the author imagined all cars being fitted with a speed beacon in the form of
a lamp on the roof.
Below 30 miles per hour, this beacon remained unlit; between 30 and 70 it
flashed with a mark-space ratio dependent on the speed; and above 70 it was lit
continuously. I think this lamp was also repeated, for the benefit of the
driver, on the dashboard.
With modern electronics enabling communication from the roadside to a car, it
must be possible to relay the local speed limit into a car’s speedometer and so
to arrange for it, and such a beacon, to indicate the car’s current speed
relative to the local speed limit.
Such a device would not stop the driver travelling at any speed they wish, but it
does give everyone else clear, objective and advanced warning of the speed of the approaching
vehicle.
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Thornbury, Gloucestershire
