IIHS Wants Vehicles to Alert You About Speeding or They Will Miss Out on the Top Safety Badge | Carscoops
Starting in 2027, vehicles will require speeding and DUI detection technologies to receive the IIHS’s seal of approval.
10 hours ago
by Chris Chilton
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has revised its award criteria for 2027.
To qualify for the IIHS's Top Safety Pick+, vehicles must now include anti-speeding and alcohol detection technologies.
The IIHS estimates that adhering to these requirements could save as many as 10,000 lives each year.
While today's vehicles are significantly safer than those from two decades ago, an American safety organization is raising the standards once more to ensure that the next generation of vehicles continues to improve in safety.
Related: Drivers in the ‘90s Had Much Better Visibility Compared to Some SUVs Today
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has tightened the evaluation criteria for a prestigious safety award. Beginning in 2027, new cars will need to be equipped with both anti-speeding technology and alcohol detection systems to be candidates for the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick+ designation.
Changing Standards
These new requirements were announced this week during a meeting with the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) organization, where the IIHS emphasized that speeding and DUI are major contributors to fatal traffic accidents in the US. The IIHS believes that implementing technology to prevent individuals with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher from driving could save up to 10,000 lives each year.
Currently, there is no federal requirement for car manufacturers to incorporate this technology, although several states, including Virginia, are enacting regulations that will, starting in 2026, require known speeders to drive vehicles equipped with intelligent speed assistance (ISA) technology.
Insights From Europe
European vehicles are already mandated to include intelligent speed assistance (ISA) technology. This system does not completely prevent speeding but discourages it, often through audible alerts. Manufacturers commonly install switches that allow drivers to disable the systems, which are generally not favored by users.
“As part of our 30×30 vision to reduce U.S. road fatalities by 30 percent by 2030, we are dedicated to tackling the risky—and frequently illegal—behaviors that lead to most fatalities today,” said IIHS president, David Harkey, regarding the new evaluation criteria.
“One approach we aim to utilize is leveraging our ratings and awards to motivate automakers to adopt this new category of safety technology, similar to how we previously prompted improvements in vehicle structures, airbags, and collision avoidance systems.”
Would you support the installation of anti-speed and alcohol detection technologies in new vehicles?
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IIHS Wants Vehicles to Alert You About Speeding or They Will Miss Out on the Top Safety Badge | Carscoops
Starting in 2027, vehicles will require speeding and DUI detection technology to receive the IIHS’s endorsement.