New Speed Limiters Could Reduce Road Collisions by 30 Percent

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Susan Vanden

Partner, Road Traffic Accident Technical Manager

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As of 6th July 2022, speed limiters – or Intelligent Speed Assistance systems – became mandatory in all new vehicles sold in the European Union. Despite the UK leaving the EU, it has been speculated that the legislation will be applied here in a bid to reduce the number of road traffic collisions happening on our roads. 

Speed limiters are safety devices that are relatively easy to install, their primary use is to stop people from driving at a speed that is not suitable for their surroundings. It’s important to note that speed limiters are not the same as cruise control, which are designed to maintain a consistent speed for longer journeys.

As Road Accident Solicitors, we see first-hand how speeding and reckless driving can ruin people’s lives and we welcome the mandatory installation of speed limiting devices. In this article, we’ve outlined how the devices will work to keep drivers safe as well as the impact their widespread use is likely to have.

How Do Speed Limiters Work?

Speed limiters are designed to identify speed signs using either a video or GPS-linked system. If the system detects that the driver of the vehicle is going over the speed limit, it will sound an alert.

If the driver fails to slow down after hearing the alert, the speed limiter will intervene by limiting the engine’s power and effectively slowing the vehicle down to the appropriate speed.

Some driving associations have raised concerns that the new signalling system might be irritating or distracting for drivers. To combat this, manufacturers have been given a number of different options for alerting drivers, including:

  • the driver’s foot being gently pushed back on the accelerator;
  • the system automatically reducing the engine power without an alert (this can be overridden by pushing the pedal again);
  • flashing visual signs to be followed by an audio alert if the driver does not slow down;
  • a visual cue followed by the accelerator pedal vibrating.
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What Impact is the New Legislation Expected to Have?

According to a recent report by, there were 1,390 fatalities and 23,149 serious injuries resulting from road traffic collisions between June 2020 and June 2021.

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has predicted that having speed limiters installed in every car will reduce collisions by about 30 percent and save approximately 25,000 lives in the next 15 years alone. Additionally, the European Commission has stated that the speed limiters (as well as other measures included in new legislation) could prevent 140,000 serious road traffic accident injuries by 2038.

If you’ve suffered serious injuries as a result of a road traffic collision, get in touch with our expert Road Traffic Accident Solicitors to see if we can help you on a No Win, No Fee basis.

When Will Cars Have Speed Limiters?

From 7th July 2024, it will be legally required for all car manufacturers to fit any cars that they have for sale with speed limiters. This means that any showroom cars that don’t have speed limiters will need to have the technology fitted before being sold.

Will Speed Limiters Affect UK Laws?

While the speed limiter legislation passed in July 2022, it won’t be fully implemented until mid-2024. The legislation was passed by the EU and was adopted by UK law which means that it will still apply here.

Although, it’s important to note that while it will be a legal requirement for speed limiters to be fitted, there is no law that requires them to be activated. This leaves a large loophole that may still allow drivers to continue speeding.

Can Speed Limiters be Deactivated?

Yes, all speed limiters in cars can be deactivated by the driver. Although, it is worth noting that the technology will reboot itself and be reactivated once the car is restarted. This means that while it can be turned off, this is only temporary.

All types of speed limiters can be deactivated by simply being overridden. This means that if you press down on the accelerator forcefully, it will override the speed limiter. While this is possible, you must understand that exceeding the speed limit is illegal under any circumstances. If you speed, you may receive penalties.

The only time that it will be appropriate to override a speed limiter is in any situation where the device may misread the local speed limit. For example, if the device thinks that the road is a 50mph but you know that it is 60mph.

Will My Car be Limited to a Specific Speed?

No, your car will not be limited to any specific speed. Some vehicles, usually work vehicles, are fitted with technology that makes it impossible for them to speed beyond a certain threshold. For example, work vans are often unable to go any faster than 52mph, and they will display a sign on the rear warning other road users that their speed is restricted.

A speed limiter is not the same as this device. Instead, it will simply not allow you to go beyond the speed that it determines is correct for the road that you are currently driving on.

How We Can Help

Although the introduction of speed limiters will reduce the number of road collisions, they wont prevent them completely. Our Personal Injury Lawyers can help offer practical legal advice on your traffic accident claim. Regardless of how it happened, you may be entitled to compensation. You may have been the driver of a car, a pedestrian, or a passenger on a motorbike. Whatever your role in the accident, even if you were partially to blame, you may be eligible.

While compensation won’t change what happened, it can offer financial support when it comes to re-building your life and seeking rehabilitation. Dealing with an accident is difficult enough and our claim process is designed to remove all the added stresses.

We will handle your claim so you can focus on your health and recovery. Why not give us a call today to arrange your free claims assessment to get the process started? We will let you know if we think you have a claim and how strong your case is.

References:

www.simpsonmillar.co.uk. (2023). Road Traffic Accident Claims | Simpson Millar Solicitors. [online] Available at: https://www.simpsonmillar.co.uk/personal-injury-solicitors/road-traffic-accidents/

www.webuyanycarusa.com. (n.d.). We Buy Any Car® | Sell My Car | Free Online Valuation. [online] Available at: https://www.webuyanycar.com/guides/car-ownership/speed-limiters

Susan Vanden

Partner, Road Traffic Accident Technical Manager

Areas of Expertise:
Road Traffic Accidents

Susan specialises in managing road traffic accident cases, and mainly represents pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists in multi-track cases, as well as clients who have developed chronic pain syndrome and sustained organic injuries.

She also supports junior members of staff across the department.

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