Ford limiting car speeds at night time, no matter driver


  • Ford created “night time drive mode” and patented the thought
  • “Evening drive mode” would restrict car speeds after darkish; it is geared toward first responders
  • The system would use a lightweight sensor that limits speeds after darkish

Ford has developed a “night time drive mode” that limits car speeds after darkish.

The nighttime velocity limiter was disclosed by Ford in a patent utility the automaker filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) again in August 2019. That utility was simply revealed by the USPTO on June 4 of this yr.

Ford Police Interceptor Utility Front Interior Visor Light Bar

Ford Police Interceptor Utility Entrance Inside Visor Mild Bar

Ford designed this characteristic with first responders in thoughts, in response to the appliance. Emergencies occur day or night time, the automaker notes, including that the high-speed driving concerned in attending to the scene of an emergency leaves much less margin for error even for expert drivers.

“Whereas these first responders are usually skilled in driving methods for top velocity car operation, there may be nonetheless much less time to react to conditions on roadways when touring at excessive speeds,” the appliance reads. “That is significantly true at night time and below inclement climate circumstances.”

Ford Police Interceptor Utility Rear Spoiler Traffic Warning Lights

Ford Police Interceptor Utility Rear Spoiler Site visitors Warning Lights

The velocity limiter can be triggered by a lightweight sensor that will measure ambient mild ranges, but additionally talk with a automobile’s GPS and telematics methods to find out if it is truly nighttime or if decrease mild ranges are resulting from inclement climate. In both case, the car can be restricted to a particular velocity no matter native velocity limits except the motive force requests an override.

Pace limiters are already utilized in sure efficiency vehicles, and Volvo has been limiting all of its vehicles to 112 mph for the previous few years within the identify of security. In 2023, New York lawmakers additionally proposed mandated limiters for serial speeders. However we have not seen the precise use case of night time driving and emergency responders that Ford is discussing right here.

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