First cars got cheeky, then bossy. Now TfL wants them to be wilful

While I try to work out how to shut the Prius up - it has that Japanese car thing of beeping at you on any pretext imaginable - TfL wants to kit out vehicles to give bossy instructions and start being disobedient. Their speed limiting system isn’t entirelyin the spirit of the “speed permission system” we suggested on Ideal Government three years ago.

The authority will provide a digital speed limit map of London and the system will utilise this asset. The system will consist of a GPS receiver with map-matching and dead reckoning capability, hardware for storing the digital speed map, ability to process updates to the map via an adhoc wireless network and an engine management system providing vehicle throttle control (e.g. haptic throttle). It is important that the system works across a wide range of vehicles such as cars, vans, buses and taxis. Levels of system intervention will be vary from ‘advisory’ (warning alarm signal) through ‘voluntary’ (the acceleration of the vehicle is restricted) as described below. The unit will be controllable via a dashboard control or, preferably a steering wheel control with the unit being able to set to: Off (unit is completely disabled); Advisory ISA (unit provides audio warning of exceeding the speed limit); Voluntary disabled ISA: Unit is set to disabled but will automatically re-engage when the vehicle passes into a new speed limit or slows below the speed limit.

See pre-tender notice from the official euro-journal below.

Meanwhile *shame* I’ve been done for speeding. Some renegade tribe members lurked in a bush and shot me with a video camera. They wont show me the footage, but they used a picture of my licence plate to consult their tribal network to derive my name and address. This is quite clever. They then wrote me a long letter designed to be quite rude and scary. And they asked me to fill in my name and address. Do they think I’m stupid? They can work out my name and address from a licence plate that speeds past them at an almost unimaginable 64mph (on a clear dual carriageway). In Finland it would be illegal for them to ask me for this information, since I’ve already given it to government. I guess we’re still some way from being like Finland. We don’t even know if we want to be like Finland.

UK-London: speed limiters

2007/S 190-231492

PRIOR INFORMATION NOTICE

Services

SECTION I: CONTRACTING AUTHORITY

I.1) NAME, ADDRESSES AND CONTACT POINT(S): Transport for London (Surface Transport), Contracts and Procurement Team (Streets), Windsor House, 42-50 Victoria Street, Attn: Christopher Carroll, UK-London SW1H 0TL. Tel.

(0044) 020 7222 5600. E-mail: christopher.carroll@tfl.gov.uk. Fax (0044) 020 7126 1002.

I.2) TYPE OF THE CONTRACTING AUTHORITY AND MAIN ACTIVITY OR ACTIVITIES: Body governed by public law.General public services.Other.

SECTION II.B: OBJECT OF THE CONTRACT (SUPPLIES OR SERVICES)

II.2) TYPE OF CONTRACT AND PLACE OF DELIVERY OR OF PERFORMANCE: Services.Service category: NoMain place of performance or of delivery: The initial design and development of the services can be done at the service provider’s place of work and the later services to take place at various locations to be specified by the contracting authority, UK-London.

II.3) SHORT DESCRIPTION OF NATURE AND QUANTITY OR VALUE OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES: This notice is a prior information notice submitted for general interest on the above potential scheme, made in advance of a possible full notice being published in OJEU at a later date. Any interested applicants in this scheme should contact the contracting authority see notice Item I.1 for contact details.The object of this contract is to procure an Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) solution for London. The authority will provide a digital speed limit map of London and the system will utilise this asset. The system will consist of a GPS receiver with map-matching and dead reckoning capability, hardware for storing the digital speed map, ability to process updates to the map via an adhoc wireless network and an engine management system providing vehicle throttle control (e.g. haptic throttle). It is important that the system works across a wide range of vehicles such as cars, vans, buses and taxis. Levels of system intervention will be vary from ‘advisory’ (warning alarm signal) through ‘voluntary’ (the acceleration of the vehicle is restricted) as described below. The unit will be controllable via a dashboard control or, preferably a steering wheel control with the unit being able to set to: Off (unit is completely disabled); Advisory ISA (unit provides audio warning of exceeding the speed limit); Voluntary disabled ISA: Unit is set to disabled but will automatically re-engage when the vehicle passes into a new speed limit or slows below the speed limit. Once engaged acceleration beyond the speed limit will be prevented; Voluntary on ISA: Unit prevents acceleration beyond the speed limit. Transport for London

(TfL) is potentially looking for a longer term partner which, if the initial trial on TfL vehicles proves successful, would be interested in working with TfL to promote the technology throughout London. Because ISA prototype technology is currently being developed, it is not known if there is a possible requirement for a division of lots and therefore, the contracting authority may seek to award one service provider (or, more dependent upon the responses received to this notice) who would also if required, project manage any sub-contractors for all listed services. Group or joint consortium applicants would be welcome as potential bidders.The initial contract duration period is approximately 1 year with possible extension periods of approximately 1 year plus 1 year or, as subject to the contracting authority’s requirements and the estimated contract start date is 2/2008. Speed limiters. Design and execution of research and development. Engineering-related scientific and technical services. Transport systems consultancy services.Division into lots: no.

II.4) COMMON PROCUREMENT VOCABULARY (CPV): 33271000, 73300000, 74231120, 74270000.

II.5) SCHEDULED DATE FOR START OF AWARD PROCEDURES: 29.2.2008.

II.6) CONTRACT COVERED BY THE GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT (GPA): No.

SECTION III: LEGAL, ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION

SECTION VI: COMPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

VI.1) CONTRACT RELATED TO A PROJECT AND/OR PROGRAMME FINANCED BY COMMUNITY FUNDS: No.

VI.2) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Transport for London (TfL) is a complex organisation operating both as a functional body of the Greater London

Authority (GLA) under the direction of the Mayor of London and as a provider of transport services, including providing services for Surface Transport (Streets).The contracting authority is acting as a central purchasing body on behalf of itself (all members of the TfL group of companies) and the Greater London Authority and its other functional bodies (currently, London Development Agency, the Metropolitan Police, the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority). Any of these bodies may award a contract to the successful bidder substantially on the terms of the contract awarded by the contracting authority (if any). Further information on TfL may be found at www.transportforlondon.gov.uk.If and when this requirement is offered to tender, this may at the awarding authority’s discretion, be by electronic e-tendering or e-auction or e-award system.The contracting authority shall not be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by any bidders in responding to this notice or in tendering for the proposed contract(s).GO reference: GO 07092830/01.

VI.4) DATE OF DISPATCH OF THIS NOTICE: 28.9.2007.

Published by William Heath on 04/10/07 at 1:00pm

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