Renault just dropped a bold new move as part of its 'Human First' safety push — it's adding speed limiters to one of its best-selling small cars, the Clio. Yep, the new system caps your top speed at 68mph, which is just under the UK motorway limit.
For now, this tech is only available in France, but Renault says there's a chance it could come to the UK in the future.
So, what’s the point? Renault says it's all about road safety. The number of fatal crashes hasn’t dropped much in over a decade, and more than half of speed-related deaths involve drivers under 35. The limiter is meant to help bring those numbers down — especially since the Clio is a go-to car for learners and new drivers.
How It Works
The speed limiter is installed after you buy the car and restricts all speed-related functions — cruise control and speed limiter — to a max of 68mph. You can still use cruise control as normal, just not beyond that speed.
The limiter isn’t permanent either. If you decide you want to remove it later, you can — but you'll need to visit a Renault dealership to do it. It costs €59 (just over £50), and honestly, it might pay for itself if it helps lower your insurance.
Renault’s betting this will appeal to parents who want to keep their kids’ speed in check — and insurance companies might like it too. Although it's not confirmed yet, this kind of tech could eventually help you score cheaper premiums, especially as insurers are always on the lookout for low-risk drivers.
Renault’s also added a ‘Safety Score’ system to its latest models. Think of it like a driving report card — you get a score out of 100 after every trip. Drive well and your score stays high. Drift out of your lane or trigger emergency braking? You lose points.
The system uses built-in safety features like:
- Lane assist
- Automated emergency braking (AEB)
- Adaptive cruise control (alerts you if you’re too close to the car ahead)
- Driver drowsiness warnings
If any of these kick in during your journey, your score takes a hit. It’s all designed to encourage safer habits behind the wheel — not to punish drivers, Renault says.
While Renault hasn’t confirmed whether these scores can be shared directly with insurers, the idea is similar to having a telematics (black box) policy. These are already popular with young drivers looking to save money by proving they’re responsible behind the wheel.
Safe driving = lower premiums. Speeding, tailgating, or braking hard all the time? Not so much.
