Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

arstechnica.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 277 posts

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#41

Post by SurrealSoul »

ken wrote: post #23
SurrealSoul wrote: post #12

Pretty cool, by establishing a top speed standard they could run reliable crash tests for the absolute worst case that the car could experience. Looking forward to the future of "No matter how you drive this car, it won't kill you"

People die every day in car crashes at far slower speeds than that. There's no way to guarantee a car crash won't kill you, even at normal highway speeds.

yeah bad phrasing on my end, knowing the max speed you could interact with a common obstacle (say a highway barrier) could lead to targeting harding to prevent fatalities, as opposed to general harding for all speeds.

Cars could still drive into lakes or off cliffs, but knowing the max speed a car could rear end another car may lead to minor enhancements that could save lives

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#42

Post by LyndsySimon »

Shivetya wrote: post #20
chasingthewind wrote: post #5

There is no circumstances under which a maximum speed of 112 would bother me. I drive a Honda Fit. I don't think I have ever driven it over 85 miles per hour (137km/hr). I'm not comfortable driving faster than that. What makes me mad is that my speedometer goes up to 140mph! Why?! The only answer I've ever seen that makes sense is that it's a marketing tool, but who honestly buys a Honda Fit and thinks to themselves…

I guess I am getting old, my first thought is "my efficiency would suck". Still I wonder how a speed considerably higher than the highest speed limits I could find in a google search was determined. Is there particular energy threshold for impact they were looking at? I am not sure that speed is survivable in any front end or offset crash with current technology but a crash where the car spins of control and doesn't…

> Still I wonder how a speed considerably higher than the highest speed limits I could find in a google search was determined.

My assumption is that they used the tires' speed rating. "S" rated tires are intended for a maximum speed of 112 MPH, while "H" rated tires are intended for a maximum speed of 130 MPH.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#43

Post by LyndsySimon »

SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #3

Is there any particular reasoning as to that value? If we assume major highway limits of 70 mph and add an excessive 20-30 mph for passing, that's still a ton of extra lethal kinetic energy. edit: Apparently even the Autobahn has a recommended speed of 80 mph (I'm aware you can go faster, but then why have a limit at all?)

As I mentioned in another comment, tires with an "S" speed rating go to 112 MPH, while tires with an "H" rating go to 130 MPH. I'm guessing they either downgraded the factory tires or were concerned about lawsuits from owners who installed aftermarket "S" rated tires.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#44

Post by LyndsySimon »

MikeKusold wrote: post #7
SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #3

Is there any particular reasoning as to that value? If we assume major highway limits of 70 mph and add an excessive 20-30 mph for passing, that's still a ton of extra lethal kinetic energy. edit: Apparently even the Autobahn has a recommended speed of 80 mph (I'm aware you can go faster, but then why have a limit at all?)

It's roughly 180 km/h. Your assumption of a 70mph speed limit is based on the US, and it's incorrect. Portions of highways in the US have 85mph speed limits (i70 on the eastern part of Utah comes to mind).

Also, while the speed limit on I-40 through Arkansas is nominally 70 or 75, it's not at all uncommon for traffic to be moving at 85-90 MPH.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#45

Post by jbob2000 »

vvillena wrote: post #39
jbob2000 wrote: post #25

I've always wondered why the government sets speed limits but then doesn't enforce them on manufacturers. You can solve 99% of speed "crime" by making it illegal to sell a car that can break the speed limit.

Defeating a speed limiter is extremely easy. It's done all the time on German cars, which are sold with a 250 km/h limiter, usually for racing purposes.

98% of drivers won’t do that. Let the racers do as they please.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#46

Post by jefft255 »

tracker1 wrote: post #14
chasingthewind wrote: post #5

There is no circumstances under which a maximum speed of 112 would bother me. I drive a Honda Fit. I don't think I have ever driven it over 85 miles per hour (137km/hr). I'm not comfortable driving faster than that. What makes me mad is that my speedometer goes up to 140mph! Why?! The only answer I've ever seen that makes sense is that it's a marketing tool, but who honestly buys a Honda Fit and thinks to themselves…

I drive a 392 challenger scat pack shaker... I don't think I've ever had it over 100, though the max is 201. I'm not sure I'd be bothered by a regulator for the top speed. That said, I don't think speeding is even close to the number 1 killer these days... Cell phones seem to be the leading cause of accidents these days. Maybe they should detect motion over 5mph and turn off display of messaging apps, only bluetooth…

My new iphone will actually ask me to confirm that I am not driving before unlocking when it thinks I am

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#47

Post by bluedino »

SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #9
klaustopher wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are markets for cars that have higher speed limits. Or none at all

So why THAT limit?

Tires. Manufacturers rate their tires for certain speeds.

https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/tires-101/tire-basics/about-...

Many cars use S-rated tires and that's the 112mph limit. It's all about liability.

Sports cars usually use higher speed ratings, whereas a truck or van might be limited ~ 100mph. They typicaly have off-road or tires with higher towing capabilities which have lower speed ratings.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#48

Post by saagarjha »

jefft255 wrote: post #46
tracker1 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I drive a 392 challenger scat pack shaker... I don't think I've ever had it over 100, though the max is 201. I'm not sure I'd be bothered by a regulator for the top speed. That said, I don't think speeding is even close to the number 1 killer these days... Cell phones seem to be the leading cause of accidents these days. Maybe they should detect motion over 5mph and turn off display of messaging apps, only bluetooth…

My new iphone will actually ask me to confirm that I am not driving before unlocking when it thinks I am

This depends on whether you have this setting enabled.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#49

Post by bfred_it »

dethswatch wrote: post #30
jbob2000 wrote: post #25

I've always wondered why the government sets speed limits but then doesn't enforce them on manufacturers. You can solve 99% of speed "crime" by making it illegal to sell a car that can break the speed limit.

You've never had a track day... This whole page is filled with "Doesn't apply to me, so go for it", which seems like a really bad rationale to apply to hundreds of millions of people, potentially.

What percentage of the population speeds vs what percentage has track days?

Surely those who have track days can disable the limit or buy a car without it, while the vast majority of "casual speeders" won't be affected by it.

Even 112 is quite high compared to the speed limit in most of the world. 100 would be right, outside Germany.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#50

Post by jbob2000 »

dethswatch wrote: post #30
jbob2000 wrote: post #25

I've always wondered why the government sets speed limits but then doesn't enforce them on manufacturers. You can solve 99% of speed "crime" by making it illegal to sell a car that can break the speed limit.

You've never had a track day... This whole page is filled with "Doesn't apply to me, so go for it", which seems like a really bad rationale to apply to hundreds of millions of people, potentially.

Yes, I have not had a track day. Most drivers have not had a track day. It’s incredibly expensive and puts a shit ton of wear on your vehicle. For the common man, go karts and rollercaosters are enough.
Post reply on HN