Transport for London, the agency appointed to manage the trains, subways, busses, and roads of London is conducting an experiment of how drivers will respond to a GPS linked system which will control how hard they step on the gas pedal.

The transport agency used its fleet of Toyota Priuses to give the idea a test. The concept centers on finding out if accidents can be prevented if computers guided by GPS technology connected to a speed database. The computer can take over the throttle of the car in case the driver goes over the set limit.

The study is just conducted in London and the proponents are planning to add some cabs and buses by late 2009 to see how it will affect the transport network.

The motive may be good but some look at it with an ulterior motive with a bureaucracy that is looking into ways so they can control and charge the motorists. Some people are looking into imposed tolls and penalties which may be set by the European Commission.

The experiment has been going on for about a month and it has been getting mixed responses. Some drivers disliked the idea at first but are beginning to realize that they are avoiding speed tickets. A lot of the participants noticed though that cars are forming a long queue behind them when they cruise down the street with the system controlling how they step on the throttle.

The participants get two choices. A dash board warning may lit up when the speed limits change. Another mode prevents manual speeding up by taking over the control of the throttle. How it will help reduce the spending of $1.9 million due to road mishaps is still on the works.

More Prius news at Toyota Car Blog.