In the United States, speeding accounts for nearly one-third of all traffic-related fatalities, with an increasing trend observed in recent years. Several states are considering intelligent speed assistance (ISA) devices as a potential solution to this issue. However, in New York, progress on similar legislation has been slow, prompting advocates to apply pressure on the state Senate before its adjournment in June.
Virginia recently became the first state to permit judges to mandate the installation of GPS-powered devices for individuals convicted of driving over 100 miles per hour, effectively limiting them to speeds no more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. This legislation followed Washington, D.C.’s Council approval of an ISA program for drivers with suspended or revoked licenses due to speeding violations.
The movement to implement ISA in the U.S. gained significant traction in New York. Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced the “Stop Super Speeders” bill, aiming to require drivers accumulating 11 or more points within a certain timeframe to install an ISA limiting their speed to 5 miles per hour over the limit. This initiative gained momentum following several tragic incidents, including a crash that resulted in the deaths of a mother and her two daughters. The bill is currently under review by the Senate Transportation Committee. On a recent Monday, New York City advocates and city council members gathered outside City Hall to urge state legislators to take action.
Elizabeth Adams, Deputy Executive Director for Public Affairs at Transportation Alternatives, emphasized the importance of the bill, stating, “We are calling on Albany to pass the Stop Super Speeders Bill — common-sense legislation that takes the option to speed out of the hands of New York City’s most reckless drivers.”
Several other states have also introduced anti-speeding legislation. In Georgia, a bill awaits the governor’s signature. However, California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, vetoed a similar bill due to ongoing federal evaluations of intelligent speed assistance systems by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Amy Cohen, head of Families for Safe Streets, highlighted that while each bill has its differences, they collectively aim to prevent reckless driving without restricting vehicle ownership. The goal is to ensure safe travel without endangering others.
Various ISA systems exist, ranging from those that alert drivers of speeding to those that prevent acceleration altogether. In 2013, after investigating a Nevada crash involving nine fatalities, the National Transportation Safety Board urged the installation of at least the alert systems in vehicles and recommended that manufacturers include them in new cars. This request aligns with the European Union’s mandate last year for anti-speeding technology in all new vehicles.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy remarked on the importance of redundancy in safety systems to protect against human error, emphasizing the need for collective action on safety recommendations.