Volvo announce speed limit plans | Motoring Issues - Car News Mar 2019

15:42 Monday 04 Mar 2019

From next year, all new cars produced by Volvo will be limited to a top speed of 112mph.

The move is part of the company’s Vision 2020 programme, which aims for no one to be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by 2020.

Volvo has long been a global pioneer in safety technology innovation, but has acknowledged the importance in changing driver behaviour if it is to meet its ambitious target. New research by Volvo identified three remaining areas that safety systems alone will not rectify without a change in driver behaviour, namely speeding, driver intoxication, and driver distraction. Volvo have also been working on ways to tackle the latter two issues, and will present ideas on the subject at a special safety event in Gothenburg later this month.

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.

Håkan Samuelsson, President and Chief Executive of Volvo Cars, explained, “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.”