Controversial green plans could cripple your car

Government scientists in the UK are working on a scheme which could limit the distances cars are able to drive each week as part of a far-reaching review of motoring aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

Proposed 'black boxes' which could be installed in all UK vehicles as part of road-charging plans may also be linked to a mechanism within car engines which would disable the vehicle if it exceeded a weekly limit on the distance it is allowed to drive.

A leaked document seen by silicon.com suggests those limits may be as low as 500 miles per week - laid down as 800 kilometres by European authorities - for most cars, though controversial four-by-fours may be subject to an even lower limit of around 300 miles per week.

Once the car reaches its limit a warning tone will sound to the driver, notifying them that the engine will cut out within five minutes and they should find a safe place to pull over. The driver will then be unable to restart the car until the counter is reset at the start of the next week.

Theresa Green, founder of environmental lobby group the Carbon Neutral Cooperative (CNC), told silicon.com: "This is a great idea and one we wholeheartedly welcome. If this encourages people to leave their cars at home and use public transport then that can only be good for the planet."

But the plans have not been met with universal support.

Brian Hunter, chairman of the Car Drivers Club of Great Britain, said: "This is just another hair-brained plan piggy-backing on unsubstantiated claims about the effect our cars are having on the environment."

"The government clearly hasn't thought this through," added Hunter. "We're going to end up with cars left abandoned because people forgot to check whether they have enough mileage left to get home."

However, silicon.com has also learned that technology is being trialled to use the 'black box' GPS satellite tracking facility and link that data to a DVLA database of drivers' home addresses. It is thought that if a driver is within 5 miles of home (8km) they will be given extra time to get their vehicle home.