From July 2024, all new vehicles sold in Europe, including Northern Ireland, will come equipped with mandatory speed limiters.
This new regulation has been introduced in a bid to improve road safety by ensuring vehicles do not exceed speed limits.
The team at Leasing Options thought we’d take a look into the change explain what it could mean for you.
What Are Speed Limiters?
Speed limiters, also known as Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) systems, are designed to prevent vehicles from exceeding the speed limits. These systems use GPS data and sign recognition cameras to detect the speed limit of the road a vehicle is traveling on. The ISA can then automatically limit the engine power to ensure the vehicle does not go over the speed limit unless overridden by the driver in emergencies.
The EU Regulation
The decision to implement mandatory speed limiters comes as part of the EU's efforts to improve road safety. From July 2024, every new car model released in the EU must have this technology, and by 2026, all new cars sold must comply, regardless of when the model was first introduced.
Although Great Britain is not part of the EU, Northern Ireland, due to the Northern Ireland Protocol, will follow these rules.
So Why is This Important?
It's important for drivers to understand how these systems work and how they can impact driving habits.
- Enhanced Safety
The primary goal of speed limiters is to reduce accidents caused by excessive speeding. Statistics show that speed is a significant factor in many road accidents and controlling it can lead to safer roads.
- Fuel Efficiency
By maintaining a steady speed and preventing high-speed driving, speed limiters can help improve fuel efficiency. This not only saves money on fuel costs but also helps reduce the environmental impact of driving.
The introduction of mandatory speed limiters is a significant change aimed at making roads safer. Don’t forget to keep up to date with all other motoring news via our blog