Photo by Jannes Glas on Unsplash 

Speeding isn’t just one of the biggest problems on the road; it’s one of the oldest. For as long as there have been cars, there have been drivers convinced they can save time by pushing a little harder on the accelerator.  

The temptation to speed isn’t anything new, and despite decades of cameras, fines, and awareness campaigns, it hasn't gone away. If anything, the conditions for speeding may actually be getting worse, as cars are built with more power, higher top speeds, and features that make it easier to slip into risky habits.  

Misjudging Speed

As newer vehicles, particularly electric ones, become the norm on our roads, the kind of speed once reserved for exotic sports cars is increasingly available in everyday vehicles. The challenge of this new reality is already being reflected in driver behavior. A recent survey in the UK revealed that drivers are finding it difficult to stay within lower speed limits when operating an EV. 

 “Nearly half of electric vehicle owners have admitted breaking the speed limits because of the way the cars drive”  

Drivers identified the culprits as the rapid acceleration and near-silent driving experience of electric powered vehicles. Where petrol and diesel engines need to build revolutions per minute before they deliver their full power, most EV’s deliver maximum torque at 0 rpm, making their takeoff immediate, smooth, and quiet. 

But when you strip away that noise and gradual build up, drivers lose two of the oldest, most instinctive tools for judging speed. Without the engine "telling" you how hard it's working, it becomes far easier to lose track of exactly how fast you’re moving. 

Automated Speed Handling

Difficulty judging speed is part of a growing trend among advancing vehicle technologies that seem to be working against road safety rather than for it. Features like increasingly large touch screen dashboards compound issues of distracted driving, while driver-assist and Full Self-Driving capabilities encourage drivers to take their hands, eyes, and attention off the road.  

Now, drivers aren't just misjudging their speed; they're outsourcing the responsibility to stay within safe and legal limits to a computer and trusting it to get that judgment right. 

We're seeing more concerns on overreliance of automation, especially as some advanced driver-assist systems lead to overly confident driving behaviors. Tesla's "Mad Max" mode, for instance, is a FSD profile designed to get drivers where they need to go faster through smart maneuvers and real-time routing. In practice, this looks like prioritizing speed and aggressive driving over caution. Cars with the mode enabled have been spotted weaving through traffic, ignoring stop signs, overtaking aggressively, and exceeding speed limits, drawing scrutiny from safety regulators like the NHTSA.  

Drive Responsibly

Beyond the behavior of the technology itself, there's also the risk of drivers misunderstanding what these systems are designed to do. Some drivers mistakenly assume that using premium features like FSD absolves them of accountability for violations the car commits automatically. That is never the case. The human behind the wheel is always legally responsible for safe driving and compliance with all traffic laws, regardless of which assistance features are engaged. 

Speed limits exist for a reason, and no amount of new technology changes that. No matter how cars evolve, staying safe still comes down to the basics: paying attention, watching your speed, and treating the limit as a limit, not a suggestion. 

Sources:  

https://www.autoblog.com/features/evs-have-gotten-too-fast-for-their-own-good 

https://www.gbnews.com/lifestyle/cars/electric-cars-speed-limit-driving-safety 

https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/technology/tesla-under-scrutiny-as-it-slips-out-mad-max-driving-mode-554287.aspx