A considerable amount of accidents which happen on the road are caused by drivers being distracted and that the speed limit is exceeded. Those causes combined often make that the speed limit is exceeded unconsciously, that is, without the driver noticing it. When an emergency situation suddenly arises, it is often too late to react adequately, amongst others because of the high speed.

It can be distracting for a driver having to look at the speed indicator all the time, e.g. when the traffic situations do not comply with the maximum speed that feels natural. With that, the speed limit which feels right for the driver on a stretch of road is meant. One of the causes that the speed limit does not feel right, and is therefore exceeded unconsciously, can be speed blindness.

Another reason that accidents can have more serious consequences than necessary is for example that the driver forgets to put on his seatbelt, or that the mirrors are adjusted while driving, with which the concentration is decreased.

Further, it also happens that accidents which have a technical background happen, with cars involved. It is important with a periodical safety check, where e.g. the profile depth in the tyres, the pressure in the tyres, the lights, and the like, are checked. Not everyone remembers those periodic safety controls, and thus one can end up in a situation where one loses road holding, where others do not see that you are braking, and similar kind of situations. In respect to the speed limits, solutions are known which enable the driver to set a maximum speed for the car, e.g. by means of cruise control in a car. One disadvantage with most known solutions is that there is no easy communication between such devices and the driver.

There are also known numerous solutions to make the car driver aware of the speed limit, where the speed limit can be set in a system, either manually or via impulses and signals from outside the car, and where the car driver is notified when the speed limit is exceeded.

Known solutions are amongst others described in US 4,839,749, Fl 110551 B, US 6,037,862, US 6,603,393B2. Problems with these solutions are that they are often impractical in operation, by that the operation buttons/panels should be mounted in poorly accessible places.

Solutions are known where buttons or controls are arranged on the steering wheel, so that one can e.g. use them by using one's thumb, both on the right side and on the left side. However, it is a disadvantage that one loses contact with the buttons when the steering wheel is rotated, because the buttons will move with the rotation of the wheel. Because of this the car driver will perhaps lower his view in a turn, or is distracted when the buttons should be operated quickly.

With the present invention this problem is intended to be solved.

The present invention is characterised by the characterizing part of the independent claim, that is, by the fact that the panel is arranged in a fixed position in respect to the dashboard, so that the panel is not rotating with the steering wheel. Alternative preferred embodiments are characterised by the dependent claims.

The advantage with having a fixed panel inside the steering wheel is that one always knows where the controls are positioned, and which position or orientation they have. In that way, one can, when one is in a curve and a system should be controlled, use one hand to hold the steering wheel, and operate the buttons on the panel with the other hand. The panel can e.g. be mounted on a fixed and therefore stationary core inside the steering column. In one preferred embodiment the buttons in the panel are replaced with a touch-sensitive screen, which can also show a variation of information regarding the car's condition, notifications for periodical checks, speed limit, how much one exceeds the speed limit, and so on.

The invention will now be described by means of the figures, where Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention with a panel comprising buttons. Fig. 2 shows another preferred embodiment of the invention with a display arranged in the panel in the middle of the steering wheel. Fig. 3 shows another preferred embodiment of the invention, where the stationary panel in the middle of the steering wheel is larger than in other embodiments. To still have a good overview and visual access to all information on the dashboard the speedometer, for example, or other indicators in the dashboard, are moved to the middle of the dash board, as known in the art.

In Fig. 1 , the panel is integrated in the cover for an airbag. In many cars the air bag does not rotate with the steering wheel. Panel 10 comprises a standard horn button 20, and additionally control buttons to control a system which is warning the car driver when the speed limit is exceeded. The buttons can for example have a function up/down 30, OK 40, cancel 50, +/- 60, menu 70, or a number of other known functions.

Further, the system can give a warning about other characteristics of the car via a display which is mounted on the dash board, e.g. when the next oil change should be done, or that one should put on a seat belt, air pressure in the tyres and the like.

Other systems which can be controlled are e.g. stereo sets, cruise control, navigation systems, etc.

A system the device according to the invention can be used for can e.g. be a system to improve the alertness of the driver, which system can comprise the following devices: a sensor for measuring the speed of the car; a central unit for registering of speed, for registering of information regarding the topical traffic regulations, and to give a signal when a set value is exceeded; A display to show information; a unit to produce noticeable signals to the driver. Another system the device according to the invention can be used for can e.g. be a safety check, where the car driver periodically is reminded to perform the different actions under a safety check. The system can be programmed manually, or by interactive contact between the system and traffic signs, traffic lights and the like. The system can give one or more signals when the set speed limit is exceeded, where the time interval between the signals can vary, dependent on how much the speed limit is exceeded. The system can further mute the radio, telephone and the like, when a signal should be given, so that the car driver does not miss the signal. Further, the illumination/contrast of the display can be adapted automatically to the light strength around the display to cause optimal readability of the display at any time.

The device in accordance to the invention can further comprise a display which can be of the type touch screen display, where the buttons, switches, turning knobs, levers or other known types of electronic controls can be replaced by virtual buttons with an assigned function on the display.