LONDON (Reuters) - An anti-speeding device which uses space satellite signals and cuts the fuel supply to cars breaking speed limits could save thousands of lives on Britain's roads, scientists said on Tuesday.
The gadget, called an "intelligent speed adapter,'' uses satellite technology to pinpoint the location of a vehicle and refers to a digital map inside the car to signal when the speed limit has been breached.
The device could then cut fuel supply to the engine if the driver continued to break the speed limit.
"What is most in its favor is the number of lives that would be saved with this system,'' said Dr Oliver Carsten of Leeds University, where research into the device is being conducted.
He said that if the so-called "spy in the sky'' were introduced into Britain it could save up to 2,000 lives a year.
A report on "sky spies'' is due to be handed to the government's department of transport soon but a spokesman for the department told Reuters that no decision had been made on whether it will be introduced.
He said research into the satellite anti-speeding device, which would cost around 200 pounds ($327.3) to install in a car, was expected to go on throughout this year.
But it is likely to be unpopular with motorists and a car industry which promotes freedom and individuality in its marketing.
Edmund King, of the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) Foundation, said the scheme would be extremely expensive and sounded like something out of a George Orwell novel.
"Do we really want Big Brother in the sky, the spy in the sky, to actually track all of our 32 million motorists?'' he said.
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