Volvo wants a 180kph speed limit on their cars from 2020. Here's why.

By topgear, 05 March 2019
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Y’all can stop complaining about governments and party poopers that want to make driving less exciting with speed limits, speed cameras, etc.; because even car companies are getting into it. Well, specifically Volvo which has officially stated that they want to limit the speed of all their cars to 180kph beginning year 2020.

It’s part of their commitment to Vision 2020, where the aim is that no one is killed or seriously injured when in a Volvo by that year. To achieve this objective Volvo is looking at more than just technology, but to include driver behavior. Research by Volvo Cars has identified three remaining concerns for safety that constitute so-called ‘gaps’ in its ambition to completely end serious injuries and fatalities in its cars, with speeding a very prominent one.

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“Volvo is a leader in safety: we always have been and we always will be,” said Hakan Samuelsson, president and chief executive. "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.”

It’s not just about limiting top speeds, but looking at how a combination of geofencing and automatic speed control measures could force vehicles to comply to slower speeds when passing through hospitals and schools.

“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,” said Samuelsson. “We don’t have a firm answer to this question, but believe we should take leadership in the discussion and be a pioneer.”

In the announcement, Volvo Cars highlights how safety technology and smart infrastructure design stops to become effective in avoiding severe injuries or fatalities when an accident occurs at above certain speeds.