4 Cars That Can Help You Avoid Speeding Tickets

CARS.COM — Speeding is one of the most — if not the most — prevalent factor contributing to traffic crashes. And when you’re piloting a two-ton hunk of metal at high velocity, the safety of you, your passengers and your fellow motorists should be the priority. But let’s face it: Whether due to recklessness, carelessness or just plain haplessness, we all exceed the speed limit sometimes.

Related: Speediest and Slowest States: Where Does Yours Rank?

Wouldn’t it be nice if, among the myriad technological advancements, there was a feature that could help us avoid a heavy fine for your heavy foot? Well, in fact, there is such a feature — several, in fact, and in some cases from automakers you might not expect.

Here are four cars that will help you avoid a speeding ticket:

1. 2017 Jaguar F-Type

The F-Type sports coupe and convertible is definitely a car you’ll be tempted to give excessive gas, and the automaker knows this. That’s why it offers the Automatic Speed Limiter function on the F-Type and other models.

With a button on the steering wheel, the driver can switch between cruise control and ASL, and the ASL warning light illuminates when the feature is active, Jaguar explains. Just set your desired self-imposed speed limit, which will display in the message center of your gauge cluster, anywhere between 18 mph and 150 mph.

“When a speed has been set, the engine responds normally up to the set speed,” Jaguar states. “Further accelerator pressure will not increase the speed beyond the set speed unless sudden, rapid acceleration (kickdown) is applied.”

If such acceleration occurs, ASL assistance is suspended. The driver can resume speed control once the car slows down below the set speed.

2. 2017 Volvo XC90

You might not expect goodie-two-shoes, safety-above-all-else Volvo to conspire to help you evade the long arm of the law, but where speed traps are concerned, that’s just what it does. The XC90 luxury SUV, among other models, offers speed-camera detection via the Sensus Connect multimedia system.

Loaded with public data identifying the locations of the controversial devices — banned in some places but still existing in 563 U.S. communities, including red-light cameras and speed cameras — the system alerts the driver with a camera icon and an audible chime when the vehicle approaches a known automated-enforcement area.

“If the car exceeds a detected speed limit, the driver can be warned when the car approaches a speed camera, provided that the navigation maps for the market in question contain information on speed cameras,” Volvo says.

Traffic-camera alerts can be disabled if the driver chooses.

3. 2017 Mazda CX-5

But maybe you just need a continuous reminder of how fast you’re going, and you’ll take it upon yourself to stay honest. The CX-5’s available head-up display will help you stay below the speed limit and aboveboard, keeping you apprised of vital information to avoid a run-in with authorities.

The HUD uses its camera system — the same used by the lane keep assist and forward collision warning systems — to spot posted speed limits as well as stop and no-entry signs, and projects the info along with the vehicle’s current speed onto the windshield in the driver’s field of vision. The driver stays aware without having to glance down at the gauge cluster.

4. 2017 Toyota Corolla

A standard feature on the Corolla is one of the most effective things that helps prevent speeding: the powertrain. Reviewer Mike Hanley said the Corolla’s drivetrain is one that won’t let you forget you’re in an economy car.

“In most trim levels, a 132-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine works with a continuously variable automatic transmission,” Hanley explained. “The four-cylinder gets the car up to highway speeds reasonably well, but like other compact-car engines, it has modest power to spare for high-speed passing.”

And the persistent drone you hear when accelerating in the Corolla isn’t unlike the sound of a sad trombone. But Toyota’s small sedan isn’t alone in offering this advanced Speeding Citation Avoidance system. You can get similar options in the 2017 Nissan Sentra and Mitsubishi Mirage, as well.