Speed limiters on new cars are a legal requirement in Europe

Are you aware of the new speed limiter rules which have come into force across Europe? It’s expected the UK could end up following suit in a game-changing move for British motorists. 

So why are speed limiters coming into effect and what does this mean for drivers? Here at Octane Finance, we explain more about the decision to introduce speed limiters on all new cars in Europe as of 6th July 2022… 

Why has Europe introduced speed limiters on new cars?

In a big step towards reducing road accidents, speed limiters will be added to all new cars in the European Union (EU) as a legal requirement. The EU’s primary motivation is to ensure the safety of all road users, with the aim to reduce road traffic accidents and associated deaths. 

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has announced that it expects the legal implementation of speed limiters will reduce road collisions by up to 30%, and deaths by 20%. Its overall goal is a huge one, with the aim to have zero road deaths by the year 2050 - wouldn’t this be amazing if achieved.   

Will the UK make speed limiters a legal requirement?

Although speed limiters aren’t a legal requirement for new cars in the UK just yet, it’s expected that Britain will implement them as law within the next six months. The UK Government’s Department for Transport was an integral voice in the EU’s plans to legalise speed limiters in all new cars, so it seems they have a vested interest in adopting the initiative over here too.

However, there are a few vehicles which are already subject to strict speed limiter rules in the UK. By law, speed limiters must be fitted on vehicles in the UK if:

• The vehicle contains more than eight passenger seats within the cabin, such as minibuses, buses, coaches, and stretch limousines. 
• Goods vehicles that have a maximum laden weight of more than 3.5 tonnes collectively.  

Stats shared by the UK Home Office reveal that in 2021, over 6,000 motorists were caught speeding every single day. These drivers were either caught by fixed speed cameras or police speed guns. 

As any motorist knows, speeding doesn’t just result in a fine or telling off, it can cause accidents too. Data from the UK Department for Transport shows that there were an estimated 24,530 people killed or seriously injured due to road traffic accidents, leading to 1,390 reported road deaths in 2021. 

Road safety charity, Brake, states on their website that someone is killed or seriously injured in the UK every 22 minutes. These are some shocking stats and goes to show the need for mandatory speed limiters in this country. 

It’s been confirmed that in the coming months, UK Government ministers will hold discussions about the practicalities of introducing what’s being called Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) to all new cars by law.

Leading car manufacturers have already begun integrating speed assistance technology as standard in many of their newer vehicles - especially electric models. But as yet, this is not a legal requirement in the UK. However, there’s mounting pressure from trade bodies, such as the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), to implement the use of ISA technology by law.    

What is a speed limiter?

Created as a safety device, a speed limiter is fitted to vehicles as a way to - quite literally - limit the speed it can go. A driver can use the device to set the speed to ensure they don't unknowingly accelerate above the designated limits. Utilising a speed limiter doesn’t hinder a driver’s ability to accelerate or decelerate, unless the set speed limit is hit.

This is where a speed limiter differs from cruise control; a speed limiter device is designed to act as a warning system to speeding drivers, whereas cruise control technology was developed to maintain a consistent speed for the benefit of long journeys and motorway driving.    

How does Intelligent Speed Assistance technology work?

Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology works by informing the driver when they have exceeded the designated speed limit. The integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) receives ongoing automatic speed limit updates during every journey, so the vehicle knows exactly what speed it should be going at any particular point.  

If the vehicle’s speed is not reduced by the driver following an initial warning, it is designed to automatically reduce the speed. When the ISA is triggered by road sign recognition cameras through the GPS, the power of the engine is compromised to allow for deceleration of the vehicle.

Drivers can choose to be notified by their ISA technology in a number of different ways, depending on their personal preference. The alert options include acoustic sounds via the dashboard, vibrations via the steering wheel or accelerator pedal, or voice communication through the vehicle’s bluetooth system.         

What are the speed limit rules in the UK?

In the UK, various speed limits have been set for the benefit and safety of all road users. But did you know that speed limits were first introduced to Britain over 150 years ago? Way back in 1861, the then ‘Locomotives on Highways Act’ implemented the original speeding scheme, which limited vehicles to 10 mph on all roads. 

Now however, things are very different. Are you up to scratch with speed limits in the UK, and which speeds apply to what vehicles in certain parts of the country? To help, we’ve created a useful UK speed limits reference table:      

Not sticking to the speed limits in the UK will land you with a minimum fine of £100 plus three penalty points added to your licence. If you receive 12 or more penalty points within a three-year period, you could be disqualified from driving.