Your Car Already Has The Hardware To Stop You Speeding. It Just Isn’t Allowed To Yet

Modern cars are already equipped with the necessary hardware for geofenced speed limiter systems, including geofencing, GPS, cameras, and connected software. This technology could potentially enforce speed limits without the need for police officers. According to Professor Marco te Brömmelstroet, who holds the Chair on Urban Mobility Futures at the University of Amsterdam, geofencing could stop drivers from exceeding speed limits in urban areas altogether. Some automakers, such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota, and Ford, already use geofencing in some plug-in hybrids to automatically switch into electric mode when entering low emission zones. Volvo has also used the technology to limit speeds in commercial vehicles operating inside designated areas. The European Union has taken a step in this direction with Intelligent Speed Assist, which recognizes changing speed limits using cameras and GPS data before warning drivers they’ve gone too fast. A fully geofenced system would take things further, refusing to accelerate beyond the local speed limit while driving through predefined zones. Supporters argue that this could reduce crashes, improve pedestrian safety, and enforce speed limits more consistently than roadside cameras. However, critics question whether governments or manufacturers should have the ability to electronically dictate how privately owned vehicles are driven. The real challenge will be convincing motorists that their car should sometimes have the final say over their right foot.