As promised last year, Volvo has announced that every new car it makes now comes with a limited top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h).
According to the automaker, the limitation goes beyond regulation and legislation “to help close the remaining gap to zero serious injuries and fatalities in traffic.”
In addition to the speed cap, every Volvo car will now also come with a Care Key, which allows drivers to set additional limitations on the car’s top speed. For example, they can do that before lending their car to other family members or to younger and inexperienced drivers.
Together, these measures “send a strong signal about the dangers of speeding, underlining Volvo Cars position as a worldwide leader in safety,” the company says in a press release.
Volvo’s announcement last year on the speed cap was not without controversy, as some people have questioned the decision. The main argument is Germany, a state which allows an unlimited top speed on certain sections of the Autobahn. Taking this into account, does Volvo have the right to deprive German Volvo owners of that experience?
Volvo’s attitude about this is unapologetic and fully driven by its desire to improve traffic safety. “Volvo Cars believes it has an obligation to continue its tradition of being a pioneer in the discussion around the rights and obligations of car makers to take action that can ultimately save lives, even if this means losing potential customers,” the company explains.
The carmaker argues that most countries have speed limits way below 112 mph (180 km/h) yet “speeding remains ubiquitous and one of the most common reasons for fatalities in traffic.” With millions of people still getting speeding tickets every year, Volvo quotes research which shows that on average, “people have poor understanding of the dangers around speeding.” As a result, Volvo says they often drive too fast and have poor speed adaption in relation to the traffic situation. Why not set the bar lower than 112 mph then?
The automaker has made no secret of its desire to reach zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries in the future and speeding is one of three major risks. The other two are intoxication and distraction, with Volvo planning to address them with more features in future cars.