Speed Limiters May Soon Determine How Fast Some Drivers Can Go | Carscoops

      A new bill may render reckless driving physically impossible through the use of intelligent speed assistance technology.

      A proposed law mandates that repeat reckless drivers must install GPS limiters.

      These devices prevent cars from exceeding speed limits and are estimated to cost about $1,700.

      Similar legislation in Virginia and Washington is designed to enhance road safety.

      Habitual speeders are a challenge globally, but new technology could potentially stop them before they accelerate. Wisconsin is considering legislation that would make it impossible for some drivers to exceed the speed limit.

      This technology is known as intelligent speed assistance, functioning similarly to an ignition interlock device for controlling drunk drivers' access to vehicles.

      Under this system, a driver with an interlock device must pass a breathalyzer test to start their car. If Wisconsin's proposal is enacted, habitual speeders and reckless drivers would be legally obliged to operate vehicles that cannot go over the designated speed limit.

      The system uses GPS data to determine the local speed limit and adjusts the car's speed accordingly.

      Legislators Focus on Repeat Offenders

      Two Democrats from Milwaukee, Rep. Russell Goodwin and Sen. Chris Larson, have introduced a bill requiring repeat reckless drivers to install these devices.

      The bill targets individuals convicted of reckless driving on two occasions within five years, which includes anyone caught speeding at 20 mph or more above the limit. The financial burden of the device, approximately $1,700, would fall on the convicted individuals.

      Financial assistance will be offered to low-income offenders. Those who tamper with, remove, or fail to install the device could face up to six months in jail or a $600 fine. Larson and Goodwin believe this measure could contribute to changing the dangerous driving culture in the city.

      “It informs them and anyone else in the vehicle why it’s necessary,” Larson explained to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

      Skepticism from Critics

      However, some remain unconvinced. Rep. Bob Donovan, a Republican from Greenfield, labeled the proposal innovative but expressed doubts about its effectiveness in changing behavior.

      “I support creative solutions,” Donovan stated, “but I’m uncertain about the practicality of this idea being effective.” It’s likely that some might find ways to bypass the technology, while others could choose to drive vehicles lacking the system.

      Reckless driving encompasses more than just speeding, so dangerous drivers could still create a substantial risk on the road. Wisconsin stands as one of the few states exploring this approach to mitigate reckless driving, using methods similar to those implemented in Washington and Virginia.

      To tackle this issue from various fronts, Wisconsin recently enacted a law empowering police to tow a vehicle if the driver receives a reckless driving citation, even for a first offense.