Starting July 7, 2024, all new cars hitting the European market must come equipped with Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) systems, as mandated by a 2019/2044 regulation from the European Commission. Even existing unsold cars must be retrofitted with speed limiters before they can be sold.
This requirement follows a prior legislation from the European Commission, which made it compulsory for all new vehicles sold in Europe to have speed limiters starting July 6, 2022.
Despite Brexit, the UK must also adhere to these safety regulations for new cars, as it has retained most EU laws concerning automobiles.
This move aims to streamline car manufacturing across different markets and could also advance the development of self-driving cars in the UK.
What is a speed limiter?
It's a safety feature you can install in your car to prevent it from exceeding a set speed. Unlike cruise control, which maintains a constant speed, a speed limiter lets you accelerate and decelerate as usual, as long as you stay within the speed limit you've set.
Speed limiters, often referred to as Intelligent Speed Assistant (ISA), use GPS or traffic-sign-recognition cameras to determine the maximum speed allowed in an area and restrict the engine's power accordingly.
The system gives you warnings—haptic, audio, and visual—until you drive within the speed limit. You can override it temporarily by pressing hard on the accelerator, but it resets every time you start the car.
Many manufacturers, including Citroen, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo, have started including ISA systems in their cars. Renault Group has gone further by limiting the top speed of new Renault and Citroen cars to 112 mph for safety.
This mandate applies to all new cars, vans, trucks, and buses, but not motorcycles yet, as the existing ISA technology needs adaptation for them.
Concerns related to the speed limiters
However, there are concerns about these speed limiters. Some find the warning signals annoying, prompting manufacturers to offer various options, like gently pushing the driver's foot or reducing propulsion power. The effectiveness of these signals will be evaluated in December 2025.
There are also worries about the technology's reliability, as cameras might miss speed changes, especially on motorways, or misinterpret road signs due to obstacles. Despite these concerns, the European Commission emphasises that drivers are ultimately responsible for adhering to traffic rules.
Can you remove a speed limiter?
While the regulation allows you to temporarily switch off the speed limiter, it reactivates every time you start the car, preventing permanent disabling. Attempting to remove it permanently can be dangerous and illegal.
Road traffic accident reduction
The implementation of speed limiters is expected to reduce road accidents significantly. The European Transport Safety Council estimates a 30% reduction in collisions, while the European Commission believes it could prevent 140,000 serious injuries by 2038, with the ultimate goal of zero road deaths by 2050.
In addition to speed limiters, the new EU regulations include other safety features like autonomous emergency braking, black box technology, emergency stop signals, driver fatigue detection, lane keep assist, built-in breathalysers, and reversing sensors or cameras, aiming for safer roads across Europe.
