Reckless driving is a leading cause of traffic deaths across the country. In response, several states are moving forward with new laws to limit how fast people can drive — not just through penalties, but with actual technology. Speed limiter devices are becoming part of the conversation around road safety. These tools can cap a vehicle’s top speed using GPS and other systems, reducing the chances of serious crashes. While often used in commercial fleets, new proposals aim to expand their use to the public — especially for repeat offenders.
States taking action
States are taking matters into their own hands by creating new bills that would prevent reckless driving, not only going over the speed limit, but also distracted driving while holding a handheld device or overtake cars and vehicles in areas where this is not allowed. Punishments should become tougher as the measures get more creative each time a new one is created.
Virginia was the first to approve legislation requiring intelligent speed limiter assistance devices for drivers convicted of going over 100 mph. The new law gives judges the option to order these devices as part of a sentence, offering an alternative to license suspension or jail time. Georgia quickly followed with its own bill, now waiting on the governor’s signature. And in Washington, a broader plan is already in motion.
New bill aims for drivers to have a GPS speed limiter
Governor Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 1596 into law this week, according to BEAM Act in Washington State House Democrats’ official website. Starting in the next few years, certain Washington drivers will need to install a speed-limiting device to get a restricted license after a suspension for reckless driving or excessive speeding.
The devices were demonstrated at the state Capitol and work in a way similar to ignition interlocks used in DUI cases. Instead of checking blood alcohol levels, they use GPS to match the car’s speed to posted limits. Drivers will be allowed to override the speed limiter up to three times per month. Support for the bill was bipartisan, especially after a 33-year high in traffic deaths across the state in 2023 — with a third of those involving speeding.
The law is named after four people who were killed by a speeding driver near Renton last year: Boyd Buster Brown, Eloise Wilcoxson, Andrea Smith Hudson, and Matilda Wilcoxson. The driver, who had already been involved in two speeding-related crashes in the previous 10 months, was sentenced last month to over 17 years in prison for four counts of vehicular homicide.
A new standard is on the way
Other states may follow suit. In Europe, intelligent speed limiter systems are already required in all new cars. In the U.S., though, this is still a new idea. From distracted driving laws in Pennsylvania to experimental tech in Virginia and Washington, more states are trying new approaches to reduce fatalities. Last year, Washington, D.C., became one of the first places in the U.S. to approve a “speed governor” requirement for repeat offenders.
Other states have looked at similar rules. In California, lawmakers proposed a bill that would’ve required passive speed limiter devices, but Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed it. Washington state’s new law defines excessive speeding as driving 20 mph over the limit on roads posted above 40 mph, or 10 mph over on roads below that.
Drivers with a record of moving violations — including excessive speeding — will have to use an intelligent speed limiter assistance device for 120 days after getting their license back from a suspension. For reckless driving cases, that probation period extends to 150 days. If someone drives without the device during that time, it’s considered a traffic infraction and could add another 30 days to their suspension.