Ford has just had a rather intriguing patent approved, one that could revolutionise traffic enforcement. Imagine a cop car equipped with a suite of in-built sensors designed to detect speeding vehicles. Yes, you heard right – a car that doubles as a speed camera.

The patent details a system that identifies vehicles exceeding the speed limit by a significant margin, capturing images of the offending vehicle's identifiable features like registration plates, make, model, paint colour, bodywork damage, and even those quirky bumper stickers. Essentially, it’s Big Brother on wheels.

Once the speeding vehicle is flagged, the photos are transmitted to another police car or a roadside unit for further tracking via the Internet of Things (IoT). The second police car would then receive instructions on its dash screen or through an audio alert, potentially turning a motorway rush hour into a cacophony of beeps and alarms.

Upon receiving the alert, the second car could activate its lights and sirens, visually warning the driver to slow down or take further action based on the recorded information. The tech isn't just limited to catching speeders; it could be used to address other traffic violations, making it a versatile tool in the fight against road rule breakers.

The patent, named the ‘speeding violation responder system,’ outlines various scenarios in which this technology could be implemented, including both manual and autonomous vehicles. While there’s no official word from Ford on when or if this tech will be integrated into commercial vehicles, it's certainly a glimpse into the future of traffic enforcement.

However, it’s worth noting that the EU's mandatory speed limiters could impact the usefulness of this tech in the UK and beyond. Yet, as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication becomes more advanced, you can't help but wonder if such systems could also tackle the bane of every motorway driver’s existence: middle-lane hoggers. 

So, what do you think, Internet? Are we ready for cars that police the roads themselves? Or is this a step too far into the realm of automotive dystopia?