Is American Acceptance of Anti-Speeding Technology Enough to Make it a Standard Feature in New Vehicles?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently conducted a survey on American drivers’ attitudes towards technology to prevent speeding in vehicles. They questioned over 1,800 drivers about various types of intelligent speed assistance (ISA) technology.

The survey revealed that a majority of respondents found each type of technology “acceptable.” Specifically, 64% were okay with an audible warning, 50% with accelerator feedback, and 52% with restricted acceleration. IIHS President David Harkey expressed optimism about the findings, stating that they indicate a willingness among American drivers to change their behavior for safer roads. This is a shift from the belief that speed-restricting technology wouldn’t be accepted in a car-centric culture.

Despite some vehicles in the U.S. already having anti-speeding technology, the IIHS is considering making it a standard feature in new vehicles. However, they note that any ISA implemented in the U.S. would likely have an option to be turned off. Respondents also showed greater openness to the idea if the ISA had a 10 mile-per-hour tolerance before activating.

In addition to these findings, the IIHS suggested that U.S. regulators could make the ISA more attractive by incorporating design elements that are lacking in the EU’s requirements. This could involve a system with a higher tolerance on interstates and freeways, but a lower threshold in areas like school zones with many pedestrians and bicyclists. By doing so, they hope to encourage more drivers to adopt these technologies and ultimately reduce traffic fatalities caused by speeding on American roads.