GM’s Vehicles Promote Safe Driving By Displaying The Speed Limit: Feature Spotlight

If you’ve driven a new General Motors vehicle with a navigation system recently, you may haven noticed a feature that displays the speed limit of the street, road or highway on which you’re driving. Just how, exactly, is it doing that? Magic.

In reality, the speed limit feature relies on a roadway database in the vehicle’s navigation system. The limit is displayed in the instrument cluster and, for vehicles so equipped, in the Head-Up Display. The feature requires GM’s Next-Gen Infotainment (NGI) systems, which is typically assigned GM RPO code IO5 or IO6.

We should also note that other automakers (including GM’s own Germany-based Opel), determine the speed limit by using a camera-based system that reads road signs.

Pictured: 2014 Cadillac CTS digital gauge cluster; note the space for the speed limit at the top in the middle of the cluster.

The GM Authority staff is comprised of columnists, interns, and other reporters who provide coverage of the latest General Motors news.

GM Authority Staff

The GM Authority staff is comprised of columnists, interns, and other reporters who provide coverage of the latest General Motors news.

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  • Well, that's nice. Now only if the speedo wasn't imprecise by law in Europe.

    > Just how, exactly, is it doing that? Magic.

    Oh, please, you've got to be kidding... Every navigation does it.

    >We should also note that other automakers (including GM’s own Germany-based Opel), determine the speed limit by using a camera-based system that reads road signs.

    Honda does this as well. It's fun when it reads the top speed label on a lorry and thinks it's a sign.

    • "Oh, please, you’ve got to be kidding… Every navigation does it."

      Incorrect. In reality, most navigation systems do not do this. Some do, of course... but not "every" and not "all". So you're wrong right off the bat.

      And most auto manufacturers don't have a technology similar to Opel Eye, which reads the signs to determine the speed limits. Perhaps Honda does in Europe... but not in its vehicles in the United States.

      • All right, let me rephrase that:

        Almost every 3rd party navigation. In your smartphone. Tomtom. Garmin. They all do this. Almost all. Probably almost, I've never seen one that doesn't show speed and speed limits.

      • We have a 2016 Silverado and cannot get the speed limits of the streets to show on the map. Can you give me the steps I need to go through to get the posted speed limits to be visible on the screen again? Thank you!

        • My 2017 GMC Sierra only shows the speed limit about half the time. I've taken it to the dealer and they told me GM had no fix for it! Apparently not enough people have this problem so it is not a priority for GM engineers! They know how to install the software into the navigation system, they just can't fix it when there is a problem!!

          • Sparky, The dealership is correct , its not a GM corporation issue, its the people who make the software driving our hardware in the GM vehicles.
            You concern can be logged or mentioned at the contact us page of Here technologies, see below
            for the link. These people make all the manufacturers software.

            They will need exact geographical locations such as route numbers or longitude and latitude degrees of the problem area to help correct.

            https://here.navigation.com/north-america/

  • Displaying speed limits is not new. Garmin model 2595LMT, which has been on the market for at least 5 years, has this feature.

    • You're correct. Alas, no one is saying that this feature is "new"... but rather pointing out its existence.

  • The owners manual for my 2014 Buck LaCrosse says it will display the speed limit in the navigation screen, but it doesn't. The owners manual has several inaccuracies. It also says there is a locking gas cap door, which it doesn't have. When contacted, Buick just shrugged.

  • My 2016 GMC Terrain Denali has this feature displayed on the Navigation screen . I think it is a nice feature and it is very accurate . I did wonder just how it knew what the speed limit was .
    My '12 SRX also has it but is in the DIC screen . You have to toggle your way to display it and only works on the highway !?
    Back in 1976 my mom's Olds 98 had a feature that worked with the speedometer . You set the gauge at a certain speed and if you exceeded it it buzzed at you . But thats not the same as the new Technology , just food for thought.

    • That’s set under the “Speed Warning” setting in the Information section on your heads up display. We’re referring to the setting that is a pop up Speed Limit sign next to your digital forward speed(how fast you are going) display. Looks like a speed limit sign.

      • I would like to expand on this topic. I believe the most helpful "Speed Warning" would be displayed or beep when you exceed the displayed speed limit by 'X' MPH where 'X' can be specified and selected. It is not helpful if you drive Interstates and are forced to set the notification speed at 85 MPH. It would be useless in city driving set at 85 MPH.
        Please have this changed or have this feature added.

  • It's a helpful feature in my Lacrosse, though I have found it to be inaccurate on occasion where the speed limit has been changed (up or down). Oddly enough, some of them in areas that changed before my car was even built, so you can't rely on it 100%. It's a good starting point on roads where you can't seem to find a speed limit sign. Also, there is no data for local streets, only (most) state roads and federal highways.

    • Any idea on how you can update that? My 19 gmc don’t update on interstate 80 where they used the sped limit and it still shows what it was before the change

  • All these systems have a small degree of error. There is no way to account for all changes. Just the small risk you take using it.

    Just read the signs for anything better.

    Recalculate!

  • I have a 2015 Chevrolet Colorado.Why doesn't my Colorado have heads up speedlimit display on the dash board I have all the options .

  • Chrysler has the speed limit on their UConnect Nav's, and you can set a verbal speed alert if you exceed that limit by a number you specify - very convenient way to avoid tickets in unfamiliar areas.

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