In the United States, over-speeding is a persistent issue that contributes significantly to traffic fatalities. According to a survey conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, over 60% of drivers would be in favor of their vehicles providing audible and visual warnings when they exceed the posted speed limit. The survey included 1,802 drivers and aimed to gather insights on how drivers feel about intelligent speed assistance systems (ISA).
The importance of addressing over-speeding cannot be overstated, as it is a significant factor in more than a quarter of U.S. traffic fatalities. In 2022 alone, over 12,000 deaths were linked to over-speeding. Alarmingly, half of the drivers admitted to driving at least 15 mph over the limit within the past month, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
In response to this issue, the European Union has mandated that all new vehicles be equipped with ISA systems. These systems use technologies like speed sign-recognition video cameras and GPS-linked speed limit data to inform drivers of the current speed limit and alert them if they are surpassing it. The European Transport Safety Council reports that ISA systems have been shown to reduce accidents caused by excessive speed by up to 43%.
Despite advancements in technology that could potentially prevent over-speeding, there is a trend towards adaptive cruise control and partial automation systems that allow drivers to maintain speeds of up to 90 mph. IIHS senior research scientist Ian Reagan warns that these systems can lead to complacency among drivers and increase the risk of accidents if not used properly.
Among the drivers surveyed, over 80% expressed interest in having a feature displaying the current speed limit, while more than 70% preferred an unobtrusive tone to sound when the speed limit changes. Additionally, around half of the respondents were open to the idea of vehicle technology that makes the accelerator pedal harder to press or automatically restricts speed.
Overall, addressing over-speeding is crucial in reducing traffic fatalities in both Europe and North America. While technology can provide solutions such as ISA systems and adaptive cruise control, it is essential for drivers to remain vigilant and use these tools correctly.
