Recently, we've seen a slew of new cars being unveiled that heralds a new era. No, I'm not talking about just electrification. You see, quietly but deceptively, carmakers (yes you, Mercedes, VW and Renault) started rolling out speed limiters in their new products (Locally, almost all Volvo models are now capped at 180 km/h).

Also read: Never mind Volvo's 180 km/h speed limit, many more speed-capped cars are coming

I thought the whole point of making ever better cars is to do away with a feature that is only seen in JDM (Japanese Domestic Model) cars? In any case, this is not that great an idea, is it now? Let me tell you why.

The technology factor

In the past century, technology in the automotive industry has made massive strides in mobility and safety. We invented the three-point seatbelt, ABS, traction and stability controls, torque vectoring and ADAS. And for what? Only for carmakers to now tell us that all these innovations have got us back to square one?

We have gone to the point where regular cars (like a Nissan Almera) are capable of speeds up to 160 km/h comfortably, and safely I must add. Technology is clearly making cars more capable and safer, so why are accidents still happening? Why are there still road fatalities?

Putting a speed limiter on a supercar, or any modern car does seem like a band-aid over a more pertinent problem. Which is, the nut behind the wheel. Yes, the person who operates the car. Yes, I'm talking about you, the driver.

The driver factor

I say this with the strongest conviction, road safety starts with education and upskilling of the driver. To make a sweeping statement that speeding is the cause of road accidents and fatalities seems ludicruous, laughable even. I mean, have you seen accidents caused by slow-moving traffic? I have, and they are even more dangerous.

My point is, improve the standards of driving, then talk about regulating speed. It is a problem when one drives fast and reckless, but have you seen slow and clueless? Teach drivers proper car control, defensive driving, traffic awareness, lane etiquette, usage of indicators and the likes. This is tackling the problem from a fundamental level. 

My colleague Sanjay recently went on ground to see if standard of Malaysian driving curriculum has improved. Short answer, no. In fact, it probably got worse looking at how incompetent Malaysian drivers are today. How is a speed limiter going to solve this conundrum?

To force car buyers to accept a speed limiter, on a car I paid with my money? This is not encouragement, this is a dictatorship. Might as well just drive in North Korea.

Also read: Outdated and woefully incomplete, Malaysia's driving curriculum needs a major update

Focus on speed and choice

When you drive at higher speeds, your focus becomes sharper. I'm sure you've experienced that heightened sense of focus, when driving at high speeds. If you're stuck at pedestrian speeds while cruising on the freeway, chances of you becoming sleepy/drowsy increases. And we've seen all too often what happens with drivers who microsleep. 

Yes, I know the speed limiters are capped at 180 km/h, and that's plenty fast for most. But who's to say they won't reduce that cap further? Mercedes has already done so with the EQC (top speed 160 km/h). Again, barking up the wrong tree.

Having a speed limiter is akin to right-lane hoggers. It is their God-given right to stay on the rightmost lane, so long as they're on the speed limit (see the similarities there?). Absolute bollocks. If a faster car approaches you from behind, you either speed up or move to the left, regardless of how fast the car behind is travelling.

I get it, not everyone is comfortable driving at higher speeds, and that's completely fine. You can choose to drive at a lower speed, just stay in the middle (90 km/h and below, the left-most) lane. Likewise, allow the faster drivers to do the same, which is to privilege of choice, to drive at higher speeds.  What monstrosity will mankind descend into, if we aren't even allowed choice. 

Also read: Should Malaysia’s national speed limit be increased to above 110 km/h?

Conclusion

There's this nagging feeling that everytime accident and fatality rates increase, speed is the first factor to get the blame. Well, I'm here to tell you that's a lazy accusation. Speed is but one of the many other factors. When a mishap happens, it is almost always driver error. This is the one variable that needs fixing.

I can assure you, outfitting new cars with such a device as draconian as speed limiters will do nothing to improve road safety. In fact, this will embolden lane hoggers and slow-but clueless drivers even more. As if we don't have bad traffic congestion already as it is.

Here's a contrasting opinion: Volvo’s 180 km/h limit is so stupid, it’s actually brilliant, but remember Turbo Rolf?

But of course, my colleagues are usually wrong.