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One of the most unrelenting causes of roadway death is speeding.
The scale of the problem is catastrophic.
In 2024, approximately 11,280 people were killed on U.S. roadways in speeding-related crashes and speeding contributed to 29% of all traffic fatalities. As many as 700 pedestrians were killed by drivers traveling too fast.
Globally, speeding is estimated to contribute to about 55% of road deaths—roughly 650,000 lives each year. The burden falls hardest on low- and middle-income countries which have about 60% of the world’s vehicles but account for 92% to 95% of global speeding-related deaths. The reasons are complex and will get deeper attention in future editions.
Recent U.S. tragedies show the consequences of excessive speed. In January 2022, a vehicle traveling 103 mph struck a family van in North Las Vegas, killing all eight occupants including four children. Too many children have died on our streets because of unsafe speeds or drivers with repeated speeding violations.
Speed does more than increase crash risk; it often determines whether people survive.
At higher speeds, danger rises sharply. A crash at 80 mph carries 78% more kinetic energy than one at 60 mph. Small increases in speed can dramatically reduce survival. A pedestrian struck at 20 mph has at least a 90% chance of surviving; at 40 mph, it falls to less than 20%. Severe injury risk also doubles when vehicle speed increases from 23 mph to just 31 mph.
This is why many cities have lowered speed limits to 20 mph or 30 mph, but lower limits are only one tool.
Vehicle technology can—and should—play a larger role in speed management.
Speed governors have been used for decades, but they are often set far above posted speed limits—up to 135 mph in some passenger vehicles and above 90 mph in some trucks. Their primary purpose is not road safety at all.
ISA is different. It uses GPS coordinates, mapped speed limits, and camera-based speed limit sign recognition to support dynamic speed management.
Passive ISA systems warn drivers when they exceed the posted limit through sounds, visual alerts, haptic feedback, or similar signals. These systems are increasingly available from automakers and can help reduce speeding, but they can often be turned off or ignored. They are an important starting point, but they still allow drivers who choose to speed excessively to do so.
Active ISA systems go further by limiting vehicle speed to the posted limit or a preset threshold which can even be set below the limit in sensitive areas. These systems can include temporary override capability when needed and can be configured so drivers cannot disable them. Retrofit ISA systems are already available globally and they work on most vehicle types.
Programs in New York City, London, and elsewhere show that ISA reduces speeding, changes risky driving habits, and can meaningfully reduce crash severity.
ISA is also appearing in new “Stop Super Speeders” laws across the United States. These laws allow courts or law enforcement agencies to require ISA installation for drivers who repeatedly receive speeding tickets. Details vary, but states including New York, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington have passed ISA-related legislation.
ISA works. It can save thousands of lives each year in the United States and hundreds of thousands globally. It can also be implemented relatively easily.
If you are interested in launching an ISA pilot program, learning more about how ISA works, or discussing “Stop Super Speeder” laws that use ISA, please reach out.
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