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Volvo To Impose 112mph Speed Limit On All New Cars From 2020 (theguardian.com)
Volvo will limit the top speed to 112mph on all its new cars from 2020 in an attempt to reduce the number of accidents. "The cap will prevent drivers from accelerating to the top speeds of up to 155mph many Volvos can reach," reports The Guardian. From the report: Volvo is believed to be the first carmaker to install the cap across its entire range. Police vehicles will be exempt. Similar technology has been installed on several high-performance cars in Germany, but at a much higher speed limit. The general speed limit for motorways in EU member states is 75-80mph (120-130km/h). Germany does not have a general cap for motorways but recommends a speed of up to 80mph. Speeding remained one of the main contributors to road deaths, Volvo said, along with drug and drink intoxication and mobile phone use. Volvo is also exploring how geofencing -- a virtual geographic boundary defined by GPS technology -- can be used to automatically limit speeds around schools and hospitals. Hakan Samuelsson, Volvo's president and chief executive, said: "While a speed limitation is not a cure-all, it's worth doing if we can even save one life. We want to start a conversation about whether carmakers have the right or maybe even an obligation to install technology in cars that changes their driver's behavior."
Almost all cars are currently limited to 155. By a gentleman's agreement between the manufacturers and insurance companies.
That makes some sense. Aero becomes critical at about 150. Those that care, can easily NOP that part of the ECU, when they hopefully install the airdam and spoiler.
John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
Mainly because you want a lot of power for towing things and/or accelerating fast.
The rate at which a car can get from 40-70mph directly impacts its safety when joining high speed roads, as well as allowing the use of speed to minimise other dangers (e.g. overtaking).
This isn't something you can get around with gearing either, because you also want your top gear to run the engine at motorway speeds at low revs for fuel economy. So your top gear will support the vehicle travelling much faster.
What this actually tells me is that Volvo want to save money on safety features, like high performance brakes and good tyres - things that matter at any speed. So fuck Volvo, I can buy from another manufacturer.
Don't make assumptions about other countries. I also had to take extensive driver's ed classes, many hours of practical driving, and a strict driving test. And we have similar punishment for DUIs.
I've been to Germany and the driving there wasn't any different.
I am neither German nor American, I have visited both many many times and enjoy both, But you are fucking kidding yourself if you think the average American rules and driving skill level is similar. road deaths per capita or per car or per mile driven (or any other measure you care to name) is nearly double that of Germany even with the much lower limits in the US.
Maybe if I take my car to a track day, I might want to run it SLIGHTLY faster than the posted speed limits on the roads around the track.
Maybe once you sell me something, it's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS what I do with it.
Chas - The one, the only.
THANK GOD!!!
He was running at 100mph. Limit on volvo is 112mph.
Sounds like he still would have been OK.