Government

How Fast Do Cars Have To Be Before The Government Controls Their Speed?

Are speed-limiting laws an abuse of government power in its growing effort to micromanage our lives or are they justified in the name of public safety?

By  
on

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The classic Ford Model T had a top speed of 45 miles per hour. Since then, technological advancements have gradually made cars safer, more reliable, and faster. Much faster. It isn’t uncommon for a car considered fast in the 1980s to be average today.

Today, even average cars can exceed highway speed limits without much difficulty. And the most expensive supercars have top speeds well over 200 mph, with a few approaching 300 mph.

The car that is getting the most hype is Tesla’s recently released Model S Plaid. Its 1020 horsepower electric engine boasts a zero-to-60 time of under two seconds and a nine-second quarter-mile time. This speed is comparable or faster than much more expensive supercars like the Bugatti Veyron, the Ferrari LaFerrari, and the Lamborghini Aventador. Driver and passenger reactions ranging from exhilarated to terrified are all over the internet.

Fortunately, the Plaid’s $130,000 base price makes it unaffordable to almost every teenager and college student, and that assumes an insurance company is even willing to insure the car to anyone under 25. But in a few years, its value will drop and a used Plaid will reach a price that a regular person can afford.

You don’t have to spend six figures to get a fast car. The new C8 Corvette announced a base price of $60,000 although I suspect only a few bought it at that price due to its popularity. Used (and some new) cars in the $30,000 to $40,000 range can get you a pretty fast vehicle.

Obviously, laws prohibit excessive speeding, and most people know the consequences if they get caught by a police officer. But when you have a car with power and speed, you will have the urge to use it. Especially if you paid a ton of money for it. While most people will be responsible about it most of the time, there are times when we want to overtake the hybrid car driving 55 in the fast lane, or just drive faster along a clear highway. And, of course, there are those who engage in illegal street racing. And all of this can present a threat to road and public safety.

Sponsored

In light of the increasing performance capabilities of cars today, laws regulating speed and punishments for breaking the law may not be enough. There may come a time when governments will consider tracking how fast we drive and, if needed, reduce the car’s speed on its own. Existing tracking technology can make this easier than before. For example, cars can be equipped with GPS systems that will know the maximum speed limit on a given road and will slow down on its own.

Something like this is beginning to happen in Europe. In 2019, the European Union mandated that all cars sold after May 2022 must be equipped with speed limiters. The limiting technology, known as Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) doesn’t actually force drivers to obey the speed limit. Instead, the car’s internal cameras will detect the posted speed limit and then warn the driver if they are exceeding the speed limit. In addition, the car can automatically slow itself down until it is driving within the limit. However, the ISA can be overridden by pressing down hard on the accelerator pedal. The idea is to nag and annoy the driver into compliance rather than taking over the car completely.

A law that controls how fast people drive is likely to be very unpopular in the United States. People generally won’t like it when their cars are controlled by someone else. Also, there may be legitimate safety reasons for needing to speed. A law that mandates ISA technology like in Europe will be just as unpopular as people will hate their cars nagging at them and it may open the door for harsher restrictions.

Statistics do not show a connection between traffic fatalities and improved car performance. According to year-to-year data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic fatalities have steadily decreased since the 1970s. The decrease could be at least partially attributable to improved safety features during that time. And there is no discussion as to whether the deaths (or other accidents) were caused by distracted driving rather than excessive speed.

While the chances of a speed-limiting law are probably slim, manufacturers should take action before the government does. They will likely not impose a speed-limiting feature because it will likely decrease the appeal of the car. Perhaps passwords or facial recognition features can be used to ensure that only certain people can go over a certain speed in the cars. Or owners can remotely shut off the car or put it in a slow “limp mode” if the owner thinks the car has been stolen.

Sponsored

As car performance numbers improve, there will always be a few bad apples engaging in illegal street racing, and some may simply not be able to control the car’s massive power. If the problem is bad enough, the government may one day force manufacturers to implement speed-limiting features. Is this an abuse of government power in its growing effort to micromanage our lives? Or is this justified in the name of public safety?

Steven Chung is a tax attorney in Los Angeles, California. He helps people with basic tax planning and resolve tax disputes. He is also sympathetic to people with large student loans. He can be reached via email at sachimalbe@excite.com. Or you can connect with him on Twitter (@stevenchung) and connect with him on LinkedIn.

Topics

, , ,