Closing speed indicator

Using similar technology to that used in parking sensors and adaptive cruise control systems, this product would detect approaching traffic, compare its speed to that of your vehicle and continuously measure the distance between the two vehicles. The device would be connected to the engine management system, which would supply a genuine rather than theoretical power figure. The system would then calculate if your car is capable of overtaking the slow moving vehicle in front, without risking a head-on collision with the car approaching, and report its decision. This report could come via a speech-synthesiser, which would make suggestions like ‘Drop down to second and nail it!’ or ‘Don’t even think about it!’ Hooked up to an auto gearbox it could select the correct gear for maximum power itself. A more complex system would have 3 sensors front and rear, to provide information on 3-lane motorways – the rear sensor telling you if you have enough time to get past the truck in the middle lane before the sales rep in the 3-series drives into your boot. Different settings, from ‘OAP’ to ‘Boy racer’ would allow increasingly exciting manoeuvres involving smaller and smaller gaps, in perfect safety.