Probably fast enough isn't it?
I was just reading that from next year, Volvo is going to restrict all of its news cars to 112 (180Kph, save you looking).
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/volvo-limit-all-new-cars-112mph-top-speed-2020
Most of the German car industry has been doing this for years, although at a slightly less sane 155.
How do we feel about it? I'll admit to driving faster than that occasionally, but I can't see a real downside other than to upset a lot of 'driving gods' who probably wouldn't buy a Volvo anyway. Their concern I suppose, could be 112 now, 70 tomorrow.
112 kph would be better
Be interesting to see if they adjust the gearing so it's pulling max revs in an overdrive top at that speed - will mean that generally it's running in a very narrow rev range and swapping cogs a lot for an auto.
Pointless. We should just have cars that are restricted automagically by the speed limit of the road with no override available.
112 kph would be better
This
Pointless. We should just have cars that are restricted automagically by the speed limit of the road with no override available.
And even better, this.
I cannot see it happening, but there was a long time when I didn’t think we’d ban smoking in public places.
Pointless. We should just have cars that are restricted automagically by the speed limit of the road with no override available.
Yep, doing the M6 variable limit section through Brum at the weekend I can only assume the fines are sent at a very high speed. Further up when everyone was playing by the rules it was a much more relaxing place to drive. You either do it by enforcement or restriction.
And even better, this.
I cannot see it happening,
you can't ? Seems like it will be inevitable with the advent of autonomous vehicles
Surely it's about time we weaned ourselves off personal transport and embraced public transport. With a bit of thought and political will, we could have a fully integrated public transport system that can deliver goods and occupants anywhere in the UK? And then we could wizz up motorways at 150mph in safety and comfort.
Didn't volvo make a commitment to zero deaths from it's cars a few years back? Presumably this is just another way they've identified to save a few lives.
Be interesting to see if they adjust the gearing so it’s pulling max revs in an overdrive top at that speed – will mean that generally it’s running in a very narrow rev range and swapping cogs a lot for an auto.
Ehhh? You wouldn't build a truck that redlined at 56mph, just cut the fuel/restrict the throttle when you reach the maximum speed.
And then we could wizz up motorways at 150mph in safety and comfort.
While everyone else is sweating on the bus?! 😆
then we could wizz up motorways at 150mph in safety and comfort.
and to remove the need for steering etc we could put rails down.
and supply electricity to the vehicle via an overhead wire or metal bar on the ground.
and to remove the requirement for lots of drivers we could join a number of veicles together with a single driver.
and have regular stopping points people can change at for other destinations.
and an automated signalling system to advise when it's safe to travel at high speed.
no doubt it will affect sales..just because
and to remove the need for steering etc we could put rails down.
and supply electricity to the vehicle via an overhead wire or metal bar on the ground.
and to remove the requirement for lots of drivers we could join a lot together with a single driver.
and have regular stopping points people can change at for other destinations.
and an automated signalling system to advise when it’s safe to travel at high speed.
It'll never catch on
no doubt it will affect sales..just because
I'd hazzard a guess that 99.999% of people wouldn't give two hoots and this is just putting Volvo in their minds with a positive association. My C-max is limited to less than that by the laws of physics (105mph IIRC).
and have regular stopping points people can change at for other destinations.
You were doing so well, but blew it with this part
Surely it’s about time we weaned ourselves off personal transport and embraced public transport. With a bit of thought and political will, we could have a fully integrated public transport system that can deliver goods and occupants anywhere in the UK? And then we could wizz up motorways at 150mph in safety and comfort.
Anywhere? Really? Don’t tell me, let me guess, you live in, or near, a major urban centre. Am I right?
Surely it’s about time we weaned ourselves off personal transport and embraced public transport. With a bit of thought and political will, we could have a fully integrated public transport system that can deliver goods and occupants anywhere in the UK?
Realistically? No we couldn't.
112mph - seems fair enough, it's pretty quick.
good idea, but speed to high. Why not make it 75 or 80 mph - gives a little bit of flexibility for an overtake but still around the maximum speed limit on UK roads ?
@thisisnotaspoon, when we had Volvo and the guys from Thatcham come into work discussing road safety and lastest technology found in their vehicles, Volvo have a Mission Statement that "by 2020 no-one will be killed or seriously hurt in a Volvo". The new XC90 has something like 17 air bags including ones on the outside for pedestrians, and the bonnet comes up over the windscreen if you do hit a pedestrian to help protect both them and occupants from memory.
To date no-one has been killed in the latest XC90 or XC60.
At the end of the day, i don't think any car needs to go above 90mph, the speed limit plus a bit more just in case you needed that acceleration to actually get yourself out of trouble.
The EU are pushing for mandatory Intelligent Speed Assistance for ALL new cars. The system reads road signs and uses GPS to set the speed limit.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/103530/mandatory-speed-limiters-due-on-all-cars-within-three-years
The auto industry is obviously pushing back. I wonder if Volvos move is designed to encourage other manufacturers to head off the compulsory EU speed limiters??
Volvo could have used the intelligent system instead of setting the limit to 112mph
CountZero
Anywhere? Really? Don’t tell me, let me guess, you live in, or near, a major urban centre. Am I right?
It's voodooo I tell thee...
Why not make it 75 or 80 mph – gives a little bit of flexibility for an overtake
If you need to break the speed limit to overtake, should you be overtaking?
no-one will be killed or seriously hurt in a Volvo
'in' but not 'by'?
It’s voodooo I tell thee…
I'm not sure what a link to an explanation of GPS has to do with a public transport system that reaches everywhere.
Why not make it 75 or 80 mph
Marketing. 112 is much higher than the vast majority of people drive, so Volvo look good but it wouldn't really affect anything, but if they limited the speed to 75-80 then many people would not buy a Volvo as other manufacturers would have a higher/no limit and they'd be constantly overtaken by the BMW/Audi's on the motorway
Mister P
Member
If you need to break the speed limit to overtake, should you be overtaking?
If you make an error of judgement does the car coming the other way deserve to get ploughed?
what about driving on the autobahn? seems ridiculous to me.
Don't know if I've related this before but ...
A good few, at least ten, years ago I was heading over to the Lakes to see my brother. As I drove past a relative's house that's next to the main road I noticed that it was covered in scaffolding and was being re-rendered. Got to my brother's and asked what was going on.
Turns out someone had wanted to commit suicide so came along the road (at an estimated 85mph) and simply drove straight into the house (the configuration of the driveway allowed this). The impact had enough force to shift the footings of the house back a metre (talking rather old farmhouse here). The guy got out the car with little more than bruising and probably a bit of whiplash. He'd been in a BMW 5 series.
Not sure how many people die in Volvo cars annually but I'd guess that most aren't due to "simple" traffic collisions.
good idea, but speed to high. Why not make it 75 or 80 mph – gives a little bit of flexibility for an overtake but still around the maximum speed limit on UK roads ?
You might not be travelling on UK roads...
Imagine arriving on the Autobahn, or even the Nurburgring, and your vehicle is restricted to 75mph.
And there's the question of track days.
And of course, all the people who ignore speed limits anyway. They would lose a lot of sales, so it would have to be a blanket ban applied to all. But you still have the above questions...
112mph is a compromise most people wouldn't bat an eyelid at. And quite sensible in an age where it's not uncommon for cars to have the potential to get near 200mph.
Doesn't bother me. Going to ruin the day of any rep using the M1 who didn't read the small print when they picked a Volvo for their company car.
Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection voted last week to approve a range of new vehicle safety standards including automatic detection of pedestrians and cyclists, and a new direct vision standard for lorries and buses to enable drivers to have a better view of other road users around their vehicles. MEPs also voted for the installation of ISA devices on all new cars from 2022.
MEPs also green lighted the requirement for motor vehicles to be fitted with aviation-style “black box” Event Data Recorders, which record critical information on the status of a motor vehicle in the moments before a collision.
It's the poor buggers the XC90 drivers hit ! Perhaps it should be re-phrased 'How many people has an XC90 killed'.
School run Tanks anyone !
sharkbait
I’m not sure what a link to an explanation of GPS has to do with a public transport system that reaches everywhere.
If a fully linked up public transport system included 'public use' self driving vehicles then we would have no need for private ownership of cars or vans etc. Self driving trucks have been in testing for years. Uber are using the same technology too. They use GPS systems to navigate, extend that to self driving cars and bingo, you can get anywhere you choose. Tis the future I tell thee.
I would guess most cars get used 1 or 2 hours a day, so should we be asking ourselves why we need to pay something we actually use for such a short amount of time? Do away with private ownership and then you start paying for the amount of time you actually need and use the vehicle.
The technology for this is trivial - gps and cruise control. Since both of those techologies are already fitted to the vast majority of cars sold in the last 10 years in theory retro-fitting could be as simple as a software update that could be done as part of annual service.
But i can imagine the fightback from Association of Bad Drivers and others
Volvo XC90 you say? Automatic braking you say?
The "black box" data recorders will probably have a bigger impact (sic) on road safety: "I was driving safely when the car lost control." - "Really? The data recorder shows you were doing 55mph in a 30mph limit and on the phone."
It should probably be pointed out that Polestar is now a seperate brand - so it will actually still be possible to get a faster Volvo anyway
I wish the motorways were clear enough of road works, congestions and other hold-ups to do 70mph never mind 112mph
112 kph would be better
This +1
And..
limit 0-60 times to no quicker than 15s
by 2020 no-one will be killed or seriously hurt in a Volvo
Like [i]any[/i] accident matters what make of car is being driven....
For those who never get my cryptic posts: Need to do something about the morons behind the wheel first.
Volvo XC90 you say? Automatic braking you say?
No one in the car was injured...
Are a high percentage of accidents or deaths caused by people going over 112mph I wonder?
Surely it’s about time we weaned ourselves off personal transport and embraced public transport. With a bit of thought and political will
Don't hold your breath.
I'd be interested in what cars are driven by all those tryimg their damndest to out do each other by forcing the slowest maximum speed on every else.
You all got 1 litre Micras ?
You all got 1 litre Micras ?
For me whatever I hire for the trip, though might be an age thing that means I don't feel the urge to break every speed limit I see. Still waiting for the need to get over 80 these days.
limit 0-60 times to no quicker than 15s
And make every short slip road more dangerous overnight. Make long A-road journeys absolute torture as convoys form behind the slowest vehicle.
I don't really have a problem with limiting top speed, but limiting acceleration is just stupid
Over 100mph is bloody fast you cover a lot of ground in a shot time and those little movements are massively exacerbated, breaking in an emergency at that speed can make your arse twicth. Way over 100mph and it is much worse again it can be unnerving especially watching other people make a move that means you need to make a decision, people can't or don't realise just how fast you can be approaching.
Seems sensible to put a limit on cars despite it being quite good fun.
limit 0-60 times to no quicker than 15s
0-60 speeds should be swift to allow quicker manoeuvres such as overtaking.
WTF my 68hp Toyota IQ does 0-60 in 14 seconds and I've been merging onto a slip road twice a day for the last 4 years without causing a massive pile up.
How do you think HGV's cope?
How do you think HGV’s cope
I think it has something to do with looking and drivers being cooperative, seems like it's a good idea that we could give a go.
limit 0-60 times to no quicker than 15s
lol, what about 0-59? IIRC that would make them slower accelerating that any new car available in the UK today.
Faster than speed limit for overtaking? Fine, it allows you to overtake quicker than if you were limited to the road limit. eg if someone is doing indicated 55-58, it would take ages if you were only allowed to do indicated 60. (eg lorries on a dual carriageway at 55 vs 56 mph) do an indicated 65/70, and you probably only hit 60-62
Blanket limit of 70 of all vehicles? I hope you don't ever find yourself in an emergency situation where the emergency services don't help, but time is a factor. For example, getting to see a dying relative in time. Most of the time speed doesn't matter, but when it does, it really does.
HGV driver looking? that's a rare thing they normally just pull out.
Faster than speed limit for overtaking? Fine, it allows you to overtake quicker than if you were limited to the road limit. eg if someone is doing 55-58, it would take ages if you were only allowed to do 60. (eg lorries on a dual carriageway at 55 vs 56 mph)
How far do you need to be going for the 5mph to make a difference?
The issues with merging are more to do with traffic exceeding the posted speed limits rather than merging traffic being unable to accelerate up to speed in time - the lengths on Motorways are determined by the traffic speed being merged into and are designed to give HGV's enough distance to achieve that before merging.
112mph? Don't see it being an issue. While most of you might have the mental aptitude and skill to keep a modern vehicle on the road, please remember that even if you're of only average intellect. Count the number of bright, clever people you know, then multipy the result by -1. Scary isn't it?
Yes, I have driven faster than 112mph, no I'm not telling you where or when. No, I have no desire to do it again, I'm rather fond of my driving license.
How far do you need to be going for the 5mph to make a difference?
far enough for frustration to build and for the driver behind to do something stupid, like take the inside lane on a right hand bend.
All this nonsense about needing 90mph capability to get yourself out of trouble. If you're going at 70mph and see trouble and accelerate, you'll have hit the trouble by the time you reach 75 let alone 90.
I don’t really have a problem with limiting top speed, but limiting acceleration is just stupid
Indeed..limitimg acceleration speeds would be a sure way to make the roads more dangerous.
That stat about the XC90 was investigated on Radio 4 a while back, and the conclusion was that no-one had died in one, but yes, other people had indeed died in some of the collisions the XC90s were involved in.
I'm sure it's easier to make your vehicle safer relative to others if it is bigger and stuffed full of extra safety equipment.
Are a high percentage of accidents or deaths caused by people going over 112mph I wonder?
Phrasing the question like that, probably not.
Are a higher percentage of accidents or deaths caused by people going over 112mph I wonder?
Is probably a yes though.
what about driving on the autobahn? seems ridiculous to me.
How many additional polar bears does a frustrated middle aged german in a 20 year old Renault Espace kill whilst having an imaginary race with the rest of the traffic doing 110-120kmh?
lol, what about 0-59? IIRC that would make them slower accelerating that any new car available in the UK today.
An empty transit van is 15s in the real world, put a ton of stuff in the back and....... the slip roads of the A34 are littered with the spent carcases of white vans as a result, or not, I dunno.
Do away with private ownership and then you start paying for the amount of time you actually need and use the vehicle
We have this system now..... They're called taxis.
My car only does 93mph.
There has been a speedlimiter to about 112mph in all cars produced indigenously sold in Japan since 2004.
far enough for frustration to build and for the driver behind to do something stupid, like take the inside lane on a right hand bend.
I'm starting to see a theme here, the most dangerous car is the one driven by a person.
Volvo XC90 you say? Automatic breaking (of limbs) you say?
Fixed!
I’d be interested in what cars are driven by all those tryimg their damndest to out do each other by forcing the slowest maximum speed on every else.
Err...any car and 70mph.
I’m starting to see a theme here, the most dangerous car is the one driven by a person.
Autonomous cars for all then. That's only weeks away isn't it? Which is the best one for bangernomics fans?
I'm happy with that. I'd happily have my car restricted to max speed limit.
Autonomous cars for all then. That’s only weeks away isn’t it? Which is the best one for bangernomics fans?
Well there is the solution of restricting them until people prove they can act responsibly 😉
It at least raises the issue, hopefully in due course the limiter will come down. Outside the autobahn, is there anywhere where it is legal to exceed 130kmph/80mph. GPS isn't perfect you could be on a dual carridgeway next to a 30mph housing estate, mixing 30/70 traffic isn't ideal.
Dezb
Are a high percentage of accidents or deaths caused by people going over 112mph I wonder?
Dunno, but the odds of survival at those speeds aren't pretty.
Surely it’s about time we weaned ourselves off personal transport and embraced public transport. With a bit of thought and political will, we could have a fully integrated public transport system that can deliver goods and occupants anywhere in the UK? And then we could wizz up motorways at 150mph in safety and comfort.
Anywhere? Really? Don’t tell me, let me guess, you live in, or near, a major urban centre. Am I right?
Exactly. I really hate this sort of sanctimonious nonsense that also ignores the general crapness of public transport anywhere other than major cities.
Let's take an example - my current workplace isn't even accessible by public transport, at least not without walking for about 3 miles each way from the nearest bus stop and making a bus journey that involves multiple changes and takes 2 hours, instead of the 30 minutes it takes to drive.
Personal transport will never go away - it will just take different forms.
JP
I see my comments brought out the speed merchants amongst you.
Take it to the track, leave other considerate drivers out of your own personal race track mentality.
Thanks.
Blah blah, limiting speed won’t stop speeding blah di blah.
You are right.
Should take the licenses off speeding drivers for life. They then can catch public transport for the rest of their lives. Repent in their own time.
Public highways are for all sensible normal human beings to go about their own business whilst observing the law of the land and road.
Race tracks they are not, they are not your own personal bullish ribbons of tarmac to do as you please.
Nothing wrong with 0-60 times of 15s unless of course you can support your arguments without resorting to “but, whatabouttary, but this but that but what about overtaking Grandma” ? Histerical nonsense.
Carry on, you can get all uppity trying in vein supporting your own “but it’s my road, I pay road tax don’t you know” horsecrap..
Well said bikebouy. You do know that most of the people that will disagree with you are blessed with reflexes approximately one million times faster than ours though don’t you? They are also expert drivers and have a sixth sense, a bit like Spider-Man, that will alert them to any unseen dangers.
All IMO of course 😘
Love you all 🤗
I spend most of my day bumbling around the Uk in a Transit, at or below the speed limit. You’d be surprised how few people actually speed by a large margin, also the speed reported by the speedometer is rarely the actual speed, Most over report.
Most of the accidents I’ve seen at motorway speeds are when vehicles are running at close lowish speeds, or lack of attention when everything stops.
Regardless all they really need to do to cut accidents immediately is disable mobile phones within arms reach of the driver.
I see my comments brought out the speed merchants amongst you.
Not me, I don’t drive/have a license.
*wonders what might have been had AC decided not to test the cobra on the M1, thus forcing the government to pick an arbitrary number based on the technology of the day for folk to be all sanctimonious about, 50 odd years later. What if they’d picked a nice round 100, would that now be fine? What about 50?
Regardless all they really need to do to cut accidents immediately is disable mobile phones within arms reach of the driver.
That’d suck for passengers in anything shorter than a people carrier...
far enough for frustration to build and for the driver behind to do something stupid, like take the inside lane on a right hand bend.
People get impatient and frustrated when they expect to be able to go faster and can't. UK drivers are fine with being able to do 85 all day, that would drive a German rep mad.
The point about these kinds of restrictions is that the remove the possibility, so you have no choice to just sit down and relax.
Regardless all they really need to do to cut accidents immediately is disable mobile phones within arms reach of the driver.
That’d suck for passengers in anything shorter than a people carrier…
It would, but if you’re serious about road safety it’d make a much bigger difference than tinkering with maximum speeds/acceleration.
How do you think HGV’s cope?
Size?
These days I drive a Passat Bluemotion fairly gently. I enjoy watching the average fuel consumption rather than rev counter, but still enjoy driving and have no interest in autonomous cars. Prior to the lottery draw at the weekend I was wondering whether to go for an 812 Superfast or a GTC4Lusso. Couldn't decide but didn't win anyway.
People get impatient and frustrated when they expect to be able to go faster and can’t. UK drivers are fine with being able to do 85 all day, that would drive a German rep mad.
The point about these kinds of restrictions is that the remove the possibility, so you have no choice to just sit down and relax.
How would that change anything though? As everyone would expect everyone else to put their foot to the floor and do the limit everywhere (much as they do now) it’s when folk don’t that the frustration will kick in as they won’t be able to get past, unless they try a risky move, or one that takes ages, hoping they make it in time.
You just need a modified Magnavolt from that advert in Robocop. Try to break the speed limit, use your phone or drive like a dickhead and......
*wonders what might have been had AC decided not to test the cobra on the M1, thus forcing the government to pick an arbitrary number based on the technology of the day for folk to be all sanctimonious about, 50 odd years later. What if they’d picked a nice round 100, would that now be fine? What about 50?
It's one that the rest of the world seems to have settled around though, must be some science to it. The one bit of tech that has not been updated, upgraded or improved since then is the driver, the one that needs to make decisions and react to what is going on. That is the main bit that takes the time, a modern car might stop faster and under more control than one 70 years ago but the driver can't process the inputs any faster, speed things up more and you have more things happening in a shorter time period so less time to react again.
it’s when folk don’t that the frustration will kick in as they won’t be able to get past, unless they try a risky move, or one that takes ages, hoping they make it in time.
I still don't get the policy of appeasing the idiots, how about we punish them more, problem is that needs more policing and more effort.
I know I’m poo pooing all the suggestions about changes to the cars etc, but I really do see little point in doing it as dickheads will just find new and exciting ways to be dickheads. What’s needed is a much more comprehensive driver training program. How many of you feel you learnt more about driving after passing your test than before? Or heard someone say that their driving instructor only taught them what was required for the test. Start people driving younger, train them for longer, and have better teachers is the way to do it (along with constant retesting), not just ‘pass your test as quickly and easily as possible’, once for life
I reckon if I decided to learn to drive tomorrow, the longest part of the process would be waiting for a slot to take the tests.