Experts are urging drivers to prepare for new motoring law changes that are set to be introduced within the next few months.
Speed limiters have been commonplace in vehicles for a number of years, with experts praising the feature as boosting road safety and ensuring driver stick to the limit.
The European Union outlined that speed limiters have been a legal requirement for all new cars manufactured in the continent since July 6, 2022.
The Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology uses GPS and traffic sign data to issue a warning to drivers when they are going over the speed limit on the road they're travelling on.
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Drivers could face huge costs if they remove the ISA technology from their vehicles
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When drivers approach the speed limit, the vehicle will notify them in several ways including a flashing sign on the central vehicle screen or audible alerts telling them to slow down.
However, new rules will be launching from July 7, 2024, which could see all cars sold in UK showrooms required to have ISA fitted, regardless of where the vehicle was manufactured.
Even though the UK has left the European Union, it is believed that the UK will follow suit to allow for easy transfer of vehicles between the UK and the continent.
Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing, said speed limiters may need to be retrofitted to cars which don't already have them.
He highlighted how some motorists were risking their safety by looking to "uncode" the technology from their vehicle systems to allow them to drive faster.
In addition to the safety risks, the expert said drivers could also void the manufacturer's guarantee and fall foul of insurers, leading to further expensive costs.
Conway added: "While it might seem like an innocent change to the car’s set-up, doing so could have serious implications.
“A car is fitted with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) like ISA for a very good reason, and a manufacturer could take a very dim view of that technology being bypassed. You could very easily void a manufacturer’s warranty by doing so.
"That’s also not to mention the potential electrical gremlins you could unleash by having any car ‘chipped’, which could also see you falling foul of a warranty."
There have been limited instances of ISA technology misreading temporary road signs or local signs, with drivers allowed to press down on the accelerator to override the system.
Insurance companies will rate vehicles based on their safety and how safe they are via the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, of which ISA is one.
If someone is involved in an accident and they are found to have altered the quality of their ISA technology, the insurer could refuse to pay out compensation.
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The technology uses GPS and traffic sign data to adhere to speed limits
PAMike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), has been supportive of including these measures and the benefits they will have for UK-EU trade and road safety.
Speaking previously, he said: "With the heavily integrated nature of the UK and European automotive sectors, regulatory divergence is not advantageous for either party.”
