Major Car Brand Helps Police Target Its Own Drivers With New Speed-Snitch Device
- Philip James
- 4 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Tech that reports drivers directly to the police for the smallest of motoring infractions is about to go mainstream.
First a super-luxury brand is bankrolling roadside monitors that feed data straight into enforcement plans—potentially putting its own wealthy drivers on the police radar.
Drivers who thought their £300,000 status symbol granted them immunity around Goodwood are in for a rude awakening. Rolls-Royce—maker of some of the smoothest, stealthiest machines on British roads—has now taken it upon itself to expose speeding motorists right outside its Chichester HQ. And yes, that includes the brand’s own customers.
In a move raising eyebrows from West Sussex to Westminster, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has funded two new Speed Indicator Devices—the smiling-or-frowning roadside boards now positioned around Westhampnett and Maudlin.
On the surface, they’re harmless gadgets: a cheerful face if you crawl along at the limit, a miserable one if you dare creep a few miles per hour over. No fines, no cameras, no immediate penalties. But buried beneath the friendly LED emojis is the real story: these devices log every passing speeder and feed that data directly into discussions about police crackdowns, targeted enforcement, and future speed checks.
For a company whose clientele includes premier-league footballers, celebrity landowners, and global CEO royalty, it’s a remarkable shift: Rolls-Royce is helping gather evidence that could get its own drivers pulled over. Mr Ball, speaking for the company, insists Rolls-Royce is “delighted” to support Westhampnett Parish Council and claims the SIDs will “make a lasting contribution to the safety and wellbeing of residents and our workforce alike.”
Why you should be concerned:
Privacy experts say that the general public should be worried as tech that reports drivers directly to the police is about to go mainstream. Every new car sold since 2021 has secret speed monitoring tech that can report you directly to the police for the smallest of motoring infractions.
Don’t be fooled into thinking this doesn’t concern you, today it may be Rolls Royce but parent company BMW have similar speed-monitoring equipment in all of their new cars that can be switched on remotely, at any time, with it becoming mandatory by 2027 according to reports.
Supporters call it community responsibility. Critics call it corporate surveillance dressed up as public safety. The move aligns with Rolls-Royce’s recent community projects, including upgrades to local circular footpaths opened by Liberal Democrat MP Jess Fuller-Brown.
But sceptics say the luxury marque is walking a dangerous line: alienating wealthy customers who expect discretion and freedom behind the wheel—not a manufacturer-sponsored data trap.
Because while Rolls-Royce drivers may glide silently past the devices, their speed doesn’t. The machines pick up every infraction, no matter how small, and file it away for future “planning for enforcement activities,” as the parish council puts it.
Some parish officials insist the system will help “crack down on times of the day when speeding is more prevalent.” Others argue it confirms a broader trend: Britain’s roads are shifting from trust-based to monitored—and even the country’s most exclusive carmaker is getting in on the act.
The fact that a major car brand is hard-wiring state overreach she be a major worry for all of us. Rolls Royce is one of the world’s most luxurious car companies—famed for making speed feel effortless— and its happy to help ensure you’re punished for using it.
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