Ford is trying to patent a system of cameras on cars to track drivers' speed. This system will notify the police of drivers who are speeding, FOX59 reports.
The patent application was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on July 18, 2024, and filed on January 12, 2023.
In the application, Ford proposes using cars to monitor each other's speed. If one car detects that a neighboring car is exceeding the speed limit, an on-board camera will take a picture of that car.
A report with speed data and an image of the vehicle will then be sent directly to the nearest police crew or roadside units via the Internet.
The company also notes that it is possible to produce self-driving cars equipped with such a system. They will drive on the roads and record violations of other drivers.
It is unclear what legal arguments Ford will put forward if it tries to implement this technology, as police officers will not witness speeding. Speed cameras already provide stationary speed enforcement, but they can only issue fines based on a vehicle's license plate, as they cannot confirm who is driving.
Ford has previously tried to patent a "night driving mode" that would limit the speed of a car at night for everyone, including first responders. But this idea was not developed.
The current application goes a little further, turning the buyer's property into a police tool. However, Ford regularly files various patent applications for new automotive technologies, and not all of them reach the production stage.