Volvo to limit top speed on its vehicles to 180 km/h by 2020

[Zafiro]

The Swedish carmaker’s Vision 2020, one of the most ambitious safety visions in the automotive industry, aims for no one to be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by 2020.

However, Volvo says that it is aware that the speed-limiting technology alone will not be enough to prevent all speeding-related accidents, so it’s also going to focus on driver behavior to implement its plan.

“Volvo is a leader in safety: we always have been and we always will be,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive. “Because of our research we know where the problem areas are when it comes to ending serious injuries and fatalities in our cars. And while a speed limitation is not a cure-all, it’s worth doing if we can even save one life.”


The company is also looking at a combination of smart speed control and geofencing tech, which could automatically limit speeds around schools and hospitals.

Aside from speeding, Volvo has identified two other problem areas that lead to deaths or serious injuries – intoxication with drugs or alcohol and distraction caused by mobile phones.


Volvo Cars will present ideas to tackle the problem areas of intoxication and distraction at a special safety event in Gothenburg, Sweden on March 20.

More: Volvo to limit top speed on its vehicles to 180 km/h by 2020 - Business Review

180km/h = 112 mph

 

[LaArtist]

 

[EnI]

Forbes, Feb 27, 2019, 06:27am

All New Cars To Have Speed Limiters Fitted, Rules European Parliament

A new ruling by the European Parliament could result in the mandatory installation of Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) in all new cars within three years.

The proposed new rules would make sure motorists had to use ISA technology, when fitted. It is expected that the automotive industry will continue to oppose mandatory fitting and use of ISA devices and may attempt to derail the necessary additional legislation required before European Parliamentary elections in May. Negotiations between the European Parliament, member states and the European Commission will determine how the proposed regulations are implemented.

Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection voted last week to approve a range of new vehicle safety standards including automatic detection of pedestrians and cyclists, and a new direct vision standard for lorries and buses to enable drivers to have a better view of other road users around their vehicles. MEPs also voted for the installation of ISA devices on all new cars from 2022.

Many buses and trucks already feature such technology, but private motor vehicles had so far been exempt from stricter rules for “professional” drivers.

Modern speed limiters do not automatically apply brakes but cap the top speed of motor vehicles by restricting engine fuel supplies. The technology works by using a speed sign-recognition cameras and GPS-linked speed limit data.

MEPs also green lighted the requirement for motor vehicles to be fitted with aviation-style “black box” Event Data Recorders, which record critical information on the status of a motor vehicle in the moments before a collision.

To soften the imposition of ISA technology it is proposed that the systems would – initially, at least – include override functionality such as stepping down hard on the gas pedal. However, the internal “black box” would track such overrides, and it is possible that motor insurance companies will increasingly demand that drivers stick to speed limits and do not drive aggressively. Such technology is already available for teen drivers, but is expected to be rolled out more widely as the adoption of ISA and Event Data Recorder technology gains public acceptance.

 

[Deleted member 25]

1984 fachism.

 

[Merc1]

I mean like who cares. They don't have any real engines anyways.

M

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

I am on the fence regarding this because, like Ricky Bobby, I like raw stinkin' power. But those who see value in what Volvo is proposing will buy into this. Those who don't, will shop elsewhere. I don't necessarily see this as over-reach as they do not have the power, let alone, are they advocating that all cars do this. For 99% of the drivers, this will be a non-issue.

 

[PanterroR]

1984 fachism.

2019 cretinism.

 

[manuelf]

1984 fachism.

Yes! If that, what @EnI has posted, gets reality, I will be out of cars. Then I will spend all the money on prostitutes instead. Hope they take my money without paying taxes ... errr ... til then they also did abandon cash at all. So I have to use credit cards ... fully transparancy ... worse than 1984

 

[Giannis]

I doubt this will make much of a difference. What's the percentage of the accidents that happen with speeds over 180 km/h?

Truth to be told, I don't think I've ever reached speeds over 180 km/h more than 10 times in my driving life. We just don't have a road network that can support such speeds.

The actual danger is with speeds between 80 - 110 km/h in some B-roads, where I drive as if I was Ari Vatanen.

 

[Centurion]

I doubt this will make much of a difference. What's the percentage of the accidents that happen with speeds over 180 km/h?

Exactly. It's an utterly stupid decision that will turn off German customers. *face palm*

In the UK, most motorway deaths are the result of cars that are parked on shoulders getting slammed into. Contrary to common misconceptions, very few deaths on the motorway are the result of high speed Michael Bay-esque collisions that climax is cars getting airborne and catching fire.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

And..... another aspect of personal freedom goes down the drain. EU? Feels more like a modern EUSR.

Forbes, Feb 27, 2019, 06:27am

All New Cars To Have Speed Limiters Fitted, Rules European Parliament

A new ruling by the European Parliament could result in the mandatory installation of Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) in all new cars within three years.

The proposed new rules would make sure motorists had to use ISA technology, when fitted...

 

[EnI]

ISA is just another precursor to automated driving. Nothing controversial here. Driving by speed limits is one of AD main points.

I find the "black box" for cars much more problematic. Recording all the vehicle's moves & actions. How the data will be protected? Who will have access to that data?

 

[PanterroR]

I find the "black box" for cars much more problematic. Recording all the vehicle's moves & actions. How the data will be protected? Who will have access to that data?

That has to be the stupidest thing in automotive history as we know it...

 

[Centurion]

How the data will be protected? Who will have access to that data?

Insurance companies and law enforcement.

 

[rsG32er]

are there any volvos that go > 112 mph on sale ? Polestar maybe, the rest are laden with elk and moonshine.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

ISA is just another precursor to automated driving. Nothing controversial here. Driving by speed limits is one of AD main points.

I find the "black box" for cars much more problematic. Recording all the vehicle's moves & actions. How the data will be protected? Who will have access to that data?

That’s indeed a big issue for me as well.
I’m surprised how easy some people are willing to give up their self-determination right, in general and in the process of automated driving.

 

[KiwiRob]

Volvo will start and other manufacturers will jump on the bandwagon. It's also money saving, they won't need to offer higher speed rated tyres, they'll be able to make the transmissions more efficient for the slower speeds, which will probably make the vehicles more economical, they also won't need to design the aerodynamics of the car to function at higher speeds. When you really get down to it what is the point in designing vehicles that can go faster than 180 kph? There's only one country in the world where you can legally attain such high speeds, and that country recently announced that they were looked at changing this.

I personally think it's a stupid idea, but Volvo isn't alone limiting vehicles top speed, since 1988 all Japanese domestic market cars have a top speed limited to 180 kph, even the GTR, although it has a function which will remove the limit on racetracks.

 

[Centurion]

Volvo will start and other manufacturers will jump on the bandwagon. It's also money saving, they won't need to offer higher speed rated tyres, they'll be able to make the transmissions more efficient for the slower speeds, which will probably make the vehicles more economical, they also won't need to design the aerodynamics of the car to function at h...

You sir, have made a plethora of highly valid arguments.

 

[Deleted member 25]

Why should autonomous cars be speed limited on the highway ?

 

[KiwiRob]

Why should autonomous cars be speed limited on the highway ?

The problem is all the non autonomous cars out there.