The speed limits were changed and introduced as more and more people were starting to drive motorcars and after the industrial revolution people needed to travel further.
Speed Limits in Europe
Speed limits differ all over Europe here is a table that shows some of the different limits in km/h:
From this table we see that Germany has the highest speed limit, as on certain motorways there are no speed limits.
In most areas in Europe in built up areas the limit is mainly 50/60 km/h.
I found the table from a website called:
The table was taken from this website and is on the page below.
Speed Cameras
Who invented the first speed camera?
A rally driver in part of a Dutch company called Gatsometer BV invented the first speed camera in the 1950’s. The man was called Maurice Gatsonides; the camera was called Gasto cameras after him. This information was found from a website called:
How the Gatso camera works:
All cameras are built of the knowledge speed = distance x time
The gatso camera also works on the calculation Speed = Gap * Marks* 0.6818 / Interval.
Gatso cameras work by measuring motorist’s speed by and if they are exceeding the speed limit, they are photographed (from behind) photographing the registration plate for further use.
The actual radar unit within the device senses the speed of a vehicle as it passes through the detection area. Within these readings, the variation in measured speed must not be more than a set error limit. If it is, the camera will not work and you will not be caught out.
Air Bags
If a car has a sudden stop (possible collision) then due to friction the car will stop but the person will continue to move, seat belts help with this however to increase safety air bags were introduced as they absorb your energy and slowing you down as you fly forward decreasing the blow.
The bag is folded inside the steering wheel, dashboard seat or door and is made of thin nylon. Acceleration is monitored by a sensor, when the sensor detects a sudden stop the bag is inflated due to the chemical reaction between sodium azide and potassium nitrate this produces a nitrogen gas that causes the bag to inflate quickly.
