Volvo is making its mark on safety by limiting the top speed on all its cars to 180 km/h from next year.
It’s part of the company’s ambitious target for zero fatalities and serious injuries in a new Volvo by 2020.
The speed limit is part of a broader focus on driver behaviour as technology alone will not get it all the way to zero, the company says.
Research by Volvo has identified three remaining concerns for safety in its ambition to completely end serious injuries and deaths in its cars, with speeding a very prominent one.
Volvo NZ general manager Coby Duggan says the proactive move will be seen as globally significant and will help raise awareness of the impact of speeding in this country as well.
According to latest figures from the Ministry of Transport, excessive speed is a factor in 28% of fatal crashes in New Zealand.
“The long-standing default maximum speed limit on the open road in New Zealand is 100 km/h, with an increased limit of 110 km/h now in place on selected motorways and expressways. Sadly, despite the extensive efforts of regulators, posted limits do not prevent reckless driving at speeds far in excess of these.
“If this move helps raise local awareness of the devastating effect speeding has on hundreds of Kiwi families each year, it will be an important step towards a safer journeys for road users,” he says.
Duggan says speed limits of 130km/h are common in Europe and on some motorways like Germany’s autobahn there are no mandated maximum restrictions.
Volvo’s new direction will encourage other car makers to review their policies and may result in wider change across the industry, he says.
Volvo president and chief executive Hakan Samuelsson says the company has always focused on being the best at safety.
“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.”
Apart from limiting top speeds, the company is also investigating how a combination of smart speed control and geofencing technology could automatically limit speeds around schools and hospitals in future.
“We want to start a conversation about whether car makers have the right or maybe even an obligation to install technology in cars that changes their driver´s behaviour, to tackle things like speeding, intoxication or distraction.
“We don’t have a firm answer to this question, but believe we should take leadership in the discussion and be a pioneer,” Samuelsson says.
Traffic accident data from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration shows that 25% of all traffic fatalities in the US in 2017 were caused by speeding.
Volvo safety expert Jan Ivarsson says people don’t recognise the danger involved in speed.
“As humans, we all understand the dangers with snakes, spiders and heights. With speeds, not so much.
“People often drive too fast in a given traffic situation and have poor speed adaptation in relation to that traffic situation and their own capabilities as a driver. We need to support better behaviour and help people realise and understand that speeding is dangerous,” Ivarsson says.
Beyond speeding, two other problem areas include driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and driver distraction.
Volvo will present ideas to tackle the problem areas of intoxication and distraction at a special safety event in Gothenburg, Sweden on March 20.
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