Vehicle Speed Limiters Are Now Mandatory

In line with the European Commission’s regulation, all new cars launched or sold in the EU must be equipped with an Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) system by 7 July 2024. This regulation also requires that any unregistered cars currently on motor dealership forecourts be retrofitted with a speed limiter by a motor trade professional before being sold.

This mandate follows legislation enacted on 6 July 2022, which made it a legal requirement for all new vehicles sold in Europe to be fitted with a speed limiter. While this rule will apply in Northern Ireland, the Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that vehicles in Great Britain are not affected.

However, the DfT continues to explore how emerging technologies can enhance road safety, improve reliability, and reduce emissions across all modes of transport in the UK.

A speed limiter is a safety device that prevents a vehicle from exceeding a set speed, as determined by the driver, and it may even reduce the cost of a vehicle insurance policy.

Unlike cruise control, which maintains a constant speed throughout a journey, a speed limiter allows drivers to accelerate and decelerate as needed, provided they don’t exceed the predetermined speed limit.

The primary function of a speed limiter is to serve as a speed warning system, helping prevent accidental speeding.

The Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) technology enhances this system by using GPS data and traffic-sign-recognition cameras to determine the maximum speed allowed in a particular area. Once detected, the system limits the vehicle’s engine power to ensure compliance with local speed limits.

Drivers receive haptic, audio, and visual warnings when approaching or exceeding the speed limit. While it is possible to override the system by pressing hard on the accelerator, the ISA reactivates each time the vehicle is restarted.

Many motor manufacturers, including Citroen, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo, have already begun incorporating ISA technology in their new models.

Renault has gone further by capping the top speed of all new Renault and Citroen vehicles at 112 mph to enhance safety.

The regulation extends beyond passenger vehicles, requiring that all new cars, vans, trucks, and buses be fitted with ISA.

Options for Speeding Alerts

To address concerns about potential driver frustration from repeated warnings, motor trade manufacturers will have four options for alerting drivers if speeding:

Haptic Feedback: The accelerator pedal will gently push back against the driver’s foot.Automatic Speed Reduction: The system will reduce propulsion power, although the driver can easily override it by pressing the pedal again.Visual and Audio Cues: A flashing visual signal will alert the driver, followed by an audio warning if speeding continues. Both cues will eventually time out.Combined Cues: The system will issue a visual cue followed by pedal vibration if ignored. If both warnings are disregarded, they will eventually time out.

These alert mechanisms will be evaluated in December 2025 using anonymous data. The assessment will examine how often the ISA system is activated, overridden, or switched off, helping regulators determine the most effective approach for the future.

While the introduction of ISA technology aims to enhance road safety, there are concerns about its current limitations. For example, forward-facing cameras with traffic-sign recognition technology can sometimes fail to detect speed limits accurately, especially on motorways or in areas with obscured road signs.

Situations where sat-nav systems mistakenly register incorrect road exits or nearby roads’ speed limits have also been reported, leading to potentially dangerous speed adjustments.

While some drivers may seek to modify or remove speed limiters for higher speeds or better fuel efficiency, it is essential to note that exceeding legal speed limits is both dangerous and illegal.

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), which has long advocated for mandatory speed limiters, estimates that the technology could reduce collisions by 30%.

The European Commission predicts that speed limiters, along with other measures in the legislation, could prevent 140,000 serious road injuries by 2038 and contribute to achieving the goal of zero road deaths by 2050.

As these new regulations take effect, they are set to transform vehicle safety standards across Europe, making roads safer for everyone and supporting the long-term vision of eliminating road fatalities.