The group, which advises government ministers, has proposed that businesses are offered tax incentives, cheaper insurance and cut-price petrol in return for fitting such devices to their cars. It claims that even if only a small proportion of cars were fitted with speed limiters, this would still be effective in reducing speeds on the UK's roads as other cars would also be forced to slow down. Research by Leeds University has suggested that road deaths could be reduced by 37% if all vehicles had speed limiters and the risk of an individual vehicle being involved in a crash is reduced by 19%. Speed limiters are to be trialled by Transport for London shortly.

The commission's report, Transport and Climate Change, also proposes large increases in vehicle excise duty, with the worst-polluting vehicles liable for a £600-a-year charge, double the current rate. It also calls for an average carbon dioxide output of 100g/km for all cars sold in the EU by 2020.

Courtesy of The Times