Safety would be boosted and pollution reduced if a system to control the speed of cars on Northern Ireland's roads was introduced. The Sustainable Development Commission proposes that "intelligent speed adaption" be used to ensure motorists do not break the speed limit, in a move also likely to shake up the car insurance landscape.

"While information technology alone will not provide all the answers, it could go a long way towards making travel in Northern Ireland safer, more pleasant and more sustainable," says Jim Kitchen, head of the Commission in the region.

First investigated by England's Department of Transport, intelligent speed adaption technology would be linked to a vehicle's engine and braking system, controlling its speed to ensure it does not exceed the legal limit.

In its report, "Smarter Moves: How Information Communications Technology can promote Sustainable Mobility", the Commission notes that greenhouse gas emissions from road transport represented almost a third of Northern Ireland's total carbon output in 2007.

The body suggests that information technology solutions could help cut emissions, congestion, accidents and noise levels, as well as improving health and air quality by reducing the need to travel and helping people to drive more efficiently.