Volvo to limit the top speed on all its cars to 180km/h

[damian24]

Taufiq Carr fits that description.

^^^^^This - it's only when you get taken out by someone doing these speeds and higher that your attitude on limiting the max speed of a car changes somewhat. I see no reason to put a restriction like this in place.

Myself and family came very close on the highway a couple of years back...

D

 

[supersunbird]

There is no cosmic law about 120 km/h. It is a human artefact, and is not absolute - to suggest it is as @genetic does (he does not admit of exceptions) is to make a category error. The last time I was copped at around 160-170 km/h on a public road, the cops jumped in their car and escorted me to the hospital. We hit 180 km/h at times, on the road between Clarens and Bethlehem. I could have gione faster (and had on clear sections), but the cop car couldn't keep up. I was transporting a farm labourer who had been bitten by a rinkhals. He needed urgent medical attention. He was lying on the back seat of the Audi 2.4. He lived. I was not fined or locked up, as @genetic said I would be.

So some open rural road... would you do 180km/h on Empire Road in JHB?

 

[pinball wizard]

So some open rural road... would you do 180km/h on Empire Road in JHB?

If in his infinite wisdom Arthur deems an emergency, then all bets are off.

 

[Colin62]

So some open rural road... would you do 180km/h on Empire Road in JHB?

Shifting the goalposts much?

 

[supersunbird]

Shifting the goalposts much?

Well, the majority of the SA population are in urban areas, so it is relevant.

And anyway, what goalposts did I set initially? (to move them, I had to set them first)

 

[Arthur]

So some open rural road... would you do 180km/h on Empire Road in JHB?

Probably not. But I cannot categorically exclude the possibility - it depends on the situation, the road, other traffic, lighting and weather conditions, and the reasons, which lead to a prudential judgment. I've certainly hit that speed several times on motorcycles, pulling off from the lights at Wabord Rd and shooting up to Yale and thence to Wits. That was not legal, of course. But it was reasonably safe as no cars were around in the 3-lane eastbound section.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

The other implication is that Volvo are effectively saying their cars aren't safe over 180 km/h. Shame.

No they're not. A tool is only as good/safe as the person wielding it...

 

[nazmo]

As much as I want a logical reason to say this is BS.... it kinda makes sense. I never hit those speeds, I do admit to driving quickly and enjoying bends, but never feel the urge to go 200+ its just silly/illegal/not worth the risk.

That being said, the idea of being limited, where does it end? where does responsibility lie, accountability. In SA the majority of road deaths are alcohol related. a minute percentage would be 180kmh+

 

[Arthur]

No they're not. A tool is only as good/safe as the person wielding it...

You're right about a tool and its handler.

But by artificially limiting the mechanical performance of the vehicle in the name of safety, Volvo are also saying they will not permit their car to travel faster than 180 km/h under any circumstances whatsoever, because that's always and without exception unsafe in their vehicle. It's an unintended but nevertheless real implication of their nannyism. Many other makers of high-performance vehicles do not (yet) take that approach to controlling people.

 

[KleinBoontjie]

This should be done with all cars, imo. Why 180? Why not 140?

 

[rietrot]

This should be done with all cars, imo. Why 180? Why not 140?

Why 140? Why not 120?

 

[Toxxyc]

I actually don't mind at all. If they do that on an M3 or whatever - sure, complain, but why complain about it on a car that's dedicated to safety? I can't remember the last time I went faster than ~140km/h anyway, so, eh.

 

[nazmo]

Why 140? Why not 120?

I see what you did there

Also, why 120, why not 80? risk factor drops dramatically.

 

[Arthur]

This should be done with all cars, imo. Why 180? Why not 140?

Why 140? Why not 120?

Also, why 120, why not 80? risk factor drops dramatically.

Exactly. Just ban cars altogether. They're just too dangerous in the hands of ordinary people.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Many other makers of high-performance vehicles do not (yet) take that approach to controlling people.

The Germans have been limiting their cars to 250 km/h for decades.

Why is Volvo's limit suddenly a bad thing, considering it's been done for so long? Is it because 180 doesn't sound as cool as 250?

 

[nazmo]

Why not censor/limit the internet, why not remove refined sugar from foods? I mean heart disease is a number one killer... while we at it, why not ban motorbikes completely, much higher risk factor than cars.

 

[Arthur]

The Germans have been limiting their cars to 250 km/h for decades.

Why is Volvo's limit suddenly a bad thing, considering it's been done for so long? Is it because 180 doesn't sound as cool as 250?

Bracket creep.

Pox on the Germans, then.

 

[Sepeng]

I don't drive much over 120 on public roads and a change like this wouldn't affect me really; also this is a private company deciding to do this and not the government so no issues from me. I can choose not to buy their cars if it I want

 

[Pox]

Bracket creep.

Pox on the Germans, then.

K.

 

[Arthur]

I don't drive much over 120 on public roads and a change like this wouldn't affect me really; also this is a private company deciding to do this and not the government so no issues from me. I can choose not to buy their cars if it I want

Yes, we can be thankful it isn't a law forced on us by government. Yet.

But just because it's a private decision doesn't mean it's a good one, or one I approve of. I fully respect their right to do as they please with their cars, of course.