Using their all-new S-Max as a test subject, Ford is launching a new technology which might help you get away with having a heavy right foot. Or it might just be really, really annoying.

If we’re to be honest, you can just turn the system off if you think you don’t need it. But if left unchecked in moments when you don’t feel particularly like being extra cautious, we can see why some might say that this type of tech might get on your nerves – just like how stop-start systems still annoy drivers to this very day.

On the flip side, Ford’s Intelligent Speed Limiter can be extremely helpful if you’re driving long distances and there are lots of speed traps, or if you simply don’t feel like having to argue with some foreign law enforcement agencies (say if you’re traveling abroad) over an extra 5-10km/h you were doing.

Ford of Europe’s active safety supervisor, Stefan Kappes mirrors this notion by saying that “Drivers are not always conscious of speeding and sometimes only becoming aware they were going too fast when they receive a fine in the mail or are pulled over by law enforcement. Intelligent Speed Limiter can remove one of the stresses of driving, helping ensure customers remain within the legal speed limit.”

The system can be activated via steering wheel controls where you can also set your maximum speed. Then, the system’s windscreen-mounted camera takes over by monitoring road signs and slowing the vehicle down when the speed limit is lower than the maximum speed set by the driver.

Launching this new tech on the all-new S-Max makes a lot of sense, because this is the type of car people usually take long vacations in.

Other Ford systems such as Adjustable Speed Limiter and Traffic Sign Recognition are already available on models such as the Focus, Mondeo and the Kuga SUV. What Intelligent Speed Limiter does is basically it takes these two systems and makes them work together in a way that will help keep your drivers’ license safe.

The system is effective at speeds ranging between 20 and 120 mph (32 km/h to 193 km/h), which pretty much covers all types of driving, both city and highway.

As it detects that you’re breaking the speed limit, it will smoothly decelerate the car by restricting the fuel supplied to the engine, rather than applying the brakes – which is what an adaptive cruise control system would do for example.

Also, when traveling downhill, an alarm is sounded if the vehicle exceeds the specified speed. This will come in handy in countries where the police set their radar guns near downhill slopes, just so they can nail you for going a few km/h over the speed limit. Yeah, that happens.

As for overriding the system, all you need to do is firmly depress the accelerator pedal and you’re back in control.

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