Cars that Read Road Signs So You Don’t Have To
Thursday, May 27th, 2010The next time you’re pulled over for speeding, if you’re driving a BMW or GM, you may not be able to talk your way out of a ticket. Why? Because both companies are working on new technology that gives cars the ability to know the speed limit.
GM’s Opel unit, along with BMW is testing a system in Eurpope that can read the information from traffic signs, and send that data directly to the person behind the wheel. The driver would be informed about the current speed limit for the road, as well as other warning signs, according to Jim Federico, chief of GM’s midsize cars lineup. As any traffic cop will tell you, it’s the oldest excuse in the world: “Officer, I didn’t see the sign.” Whether true or not, General Motors has a technology on the horizon that could end the excuse — and save some lives.
GM’s Opel unit, along with BMW, is trying out a system in Europe that can read traffic signs and relay the information directly to drivers in the car. It tells drivers the speed limit on any road, and informs them of other warning signs as well, says Jim Federico, GM’s chief of its midsize cars lineup. It sounds pretty cool, but DriveOn’s Chris Woodyard says the system still has some kinks – specifically, it’s having issues reading digital signs, but as drivers in the European test market bring their vehicles in for service, the system can be upgraded with better sign recognition software.
This technology will eventually be introduced here in the United States, but timing hasn’t been nailed down yet.