Should Anti-Speeding Technology Be Implemented?

Should the U.S. Require Anti-Speeding Technologies?

The U.S. has an automobile-centric culture, and the prevailing wisdom is that Americans would not accept the anti-speeding technologies that are now emerging on the market. However, a recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) survey reveals that Americans favor adopting these innovations. That could save thousands of lives, and according to Allentown personal injury lawyers, the survey has some rather interesting implications.

IIHS

The IIHS is an independent nonprofit organization established in 1959. It tests vehicle performance in crashes and has been integral in developing front-impact, side-impact, and roof strength tests. It also conducts automobile safety research, including surveys that gauge American motorists’ perceptions of and feelings on many driving topics.

IIHS ISA Survey

Intelligent speed assistance (ISA) is an emerging technology that would help ensure speed limit compliance. A new European law requires ISA in all vehicles sold on or after July 2024. The U.S. government has considered a similar law, but there are concerns among politicians and the automobile industry that Americans would reject it. The goal of the IIHS ISA survey was to determine whether those presumptions were correct, and the data suggests that perhaps they were not. More than 60% of drivers surveyed were open to ISA.

Survey Reponses

Over 60% of survey responders welcome the fact that provides them visual and audible cues when they have exceeded the posted speed limit. About 50% of drivers surveyed said they would be fine with more intrusive technologies. Those include those that would automatically restrict the vehicle’s speed or which would make the pedal harder to press the faster you drove. More than 80% of responders want a feature that posts the current speed limit on the dashboard.

Speed Kills

Speed is a component in over 25% of U.S. traffic fatalities. In 2022 alone, it was a factor in at least 12,000 deaths. According to surveys by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more than half of drivers admit to having driven 15 mph or more over the speed limit in the month they participated in the survey. According to IIHS scientists, ISA could eliminate all speeding, all speed-related accidents and fatalities, and all speeding tickets.

ISA vs. Traditional Speed Limiters

Speed limiters are not a new concept. Fleet operators have used them for many years, but they typically only allow one setting, such as the highway limit. That makes them inadequate on the vast majority of U.S. roads. ISA, on the other hand, uses GPS and a speed limit database. Those resources allow the system to adapt to the current road.

Concerns Over ISA

Many people have concerns over ISA. Chief among them is the cost. If the U.S. government requires ISA in automobiles, manufacturers will likely pass that cost onto the consumer. The other main concern is that there are times when speeding is necessary. That said, the U.S. is not likely to require ISA systems that prevent you from exceeding the speed limit. These systems will likely alert you, as with the European law, or make going over the speed limit more difficult.

The Social Aspect

Many drivers surveyed admitted to exceeding the speed limit because they did not want to annoy other motorists. Most survey responders also noted that they would want their next vehicle to have ISA but only if most other new vehicles had it as well. That percentage went even higher if their insurance companies agreed to lower their premiums based on data that they were not speeding. Drivers were also more in favor of a system that provided a leeway of 10 mph. The European standard is much stricter, and most surveyed agreed they would turn that feature off.

Local Representation in Pennsylvania

Metzger & Kleiner has extensive experience representing auto accident victims in Pennsylvania. If you or a loved one was injured by a driver driving over the speed limit, you should consult with an Allentown personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. To have your case reviewed by us, call our Lehigh Valley office at 610-435-7400 or our Philadelphia office at 215-567-6616 or contact us online.