When we look at a speedometer, we see kilometers per hour — a number that feels intuitive but may distort how we perceive time savings. Professor Ola Svenson's study on speed perception found that drivers consistently overestimate the time saved by speeding at high speeds and underestimate time saved at lower speeds. This misjudgment can lead to risky behavior and poor decision-making on the road.  

The solution? Redesign the speedometer to display minutes saved per kilometer driven instead. This simple shift reframes the driving experience, helping people understand that small increases in speed rarely save meaningful time — and may actually increase risk. In tests, drivers quickly grasped the new format and made better judgments.   

This example highlights the powerful role of design in shaping behavior. By aligning the interface with how people think and behave, we can make safer choices and feel more intuitive. It's a lesson in behavioral design with implications far beyond the dashboard.  

Designing for safety doesn't mean adding complexity — it means making the right thing easier to understand. And in the case of speeding, a clearer picture of time might just save lives.