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How Will Mandatory Speed Limiters Affect Supercar Drivers?

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Online applications are now being accepted for the right to own the upcoming Ford GT supercar

For the lucky few, getting a new supercar out on the road and feeling the power of its engine under foot is a sensation unlike any other. That could all be set to change, however, with the news that all vehicles sold in Europe from 2022 onward must have in-built speed limiters.

The legislation has been provisionally agreed by the EU and will apply in the U.K. regardless of the outcome of Brexit. Under speed limiter technology, cars will receive information on speed limit zones via GPS, a digital map, and video cameras capable of reading road signs.

Some high-end vehicles sold by Romans International already have similar technology fitted, though it is expected that new systems will need to be developed ahead of the deadline. But how will the ruling affect supercar drivers, supercar sales, and other road users?

Improved driver safety        

First and foremost, the EU believes the plan could help to avoid 140,000 serious road traffic accidents by 2038 by reducing the room for human error. The move should help to protect the safety of all road users, regardless of the vehicle they are driving.      

It is hoped the compulsory introduction of the technology in 2022 will have a similar level of impact to the launch of the seatbelt in the 1980s. As well as benefits for wider public safety, for supercar owners less accidents on the road will mean a lower likelihood of incurring costly damage to their high-value vehicles. 

Better driver behavior

Speed-limiter technology is expected to encourage vehicle owners to slow down rather than forcing them to do so, putting the onus on the driver to behave appropriately. Compulsory data recorders will track if a driver has been going too fast and ignoring speed limit warnings and could be used by the police and insurers in the event of a crash.

With every acceleration being legally monitored, supercar drivers may well be persuaded to avoid temptation and enjoy the power of their vehicles responsibly.

Speeding isn’t the only aspect of driver behavior that could improve. Other approved features of the technology include system warnings if the person behind the wheel is distracted by their mobile phone, and breathalyzer technology that will cut engine power if it detects that a driver is over the legal limit.     

Lower car insurance

U.K. road safety charity Brake say that speed is a contributory factor in around a quarter of all fatal crashes. If we do see less accidents as a result of compulsory speed-limiter technology, it is predicted that car insurance premiums could be reduced.

This means we could see more luxury vehicles from high-end dealers such on the road as they become more affordable with lower additional costs involved; however, nothing is certain yet.

This is a collaborative article.