Virginia Aims to Be the First State to Mandate Speed-Limiting Technology for Careless Drivers | Carscoops

      Soon, habitual speeders won’t be able to exceed speed limits in their own vehicles.

      Virginia is advancing a bill that will permit habitual speeders to maintain their driving license. Instead of facing suspension, they will be required to have a speed limiter installed in their cars.

      Virginia is not the only state contemplating this initiative, as Washington and New York are considering similar measures.

      Drivers who frequently speed and eventually lose their licenses create a significant issue. They often need to drive for work or school, yet there is nothing preventing them from driving or borrowing another vehicle. Virginia is on the verge of enacting a law that would allow these drivers to continue driving legally, with the stipulation that they cannot exceed the speed limit.

      If the bill is enacted, Virginia would become the first state in the U.S. to mandate intelligent speed assistance systems as a legal requirement. The legislation has been navigating through the state government since early January. If it becomes law, judges will be empowered to mandate the installation of intelligent speed-limiting technology in the cars of repeat offenders.

      This system operates by utilizing GPS and traffic data to recognize the current speed limit and then limiting the vehicle’s speed accordingly. The bill has passed both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly, and although Governor Glenn Youngkin returned it with a suggested modification, final approval seems imminent.

      The Governor's Suggested Change

      Youngkin’s amendment does not significantly alter the bill. He proposes that judges be allowed to determine the duration of the limiter’s installation based on individual circumstances, rather than fixing it to a period of two to six months. It is expected that the Assembly will concur, paving the way for the bill to become law soon.

      Interestingly, Virginia is not the only state exploring similar options. Washington State is also looking into this possibility, and New York State is considering a measure known as the Stop Super Speeders bill.

      This initiative seeks to require intelligent speed limiters in vehicles owned by individuals who “accumulate 11 or more points on their license within a 24-month span, or who receive six speed camera or red-light camera violations in a year,” according to the Gothamist.

      Speed Restrictions Meet Technological Solutions

      Of course, no technology is infallible. People will likely find ways to circumvent these systems by hacking, disabling them, or simply using another person's vehicle. Nevertheless, this represents a new tool for states aiming to address repeat offenders, and whether it will effectively reduce accidents or reckless speeding remains to be seen, assessed by time and traffic data.

      In the meantime, if you feel tempted to speed, perhaps reconsider, particularly in Virginia. While it may still be the "State for Lovers," it is rapidly becoming a state with little tolerance for speeding.