States Crack Down on Reckless Driving with Speed-Limiting Technology
Some U.S. states are implementing laws that use technology to limit vehicle speeds for drivers with reckless driving records. Washington State recently joined Virginia in enacting such legislation, while other states consider similar measures.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a law in May requiring drivers with suspended licenses due to reckless driving to install intelligent speed assistance (ISA) devices in their vehicles if they wish to drive again immediately. This technology monitors a driver’s speed and prevents their vehicle from exceeding local speed limits. The law comes as Washington’s state traffic safety commission reported a nearly 40% increase in fatal crashes involving speeding drivers between 2019 and 2023.
“This legislation was inspired by a crash when four individuals, including three children, were killed when their car was struck by a driver going 112 miles per hour,” Ferguson said when signing the law. It will take effect in January 2029.
Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Cathy Chase, noted that similar bills have been filed in at least five other states to address repeat reckless drivers. “Sometimes it just takes one state to get the momentum going,” Chase said.
Virginia was the first state to adopt anti-speeding tech legislation in April, requiring ISA devices for drivers convicted of driving over 100 mph. The law allows judges to mandate these devices for drivers with repeat reckless offenses as an alternative to license suspension. The devices, small enough to fit on an air vent, prevent drivers from exceeding the speed limit.
Washington, D.C. passed similar legislation in 2024, becoming the first U.S. municipality to enact Intelligent Speed Assistance for repeat speeding drivers. The D.C. Council unanimously passed the measure, which allows officials to install “speed governors” on vehicles of drivers convicted of aggravated or reckless aggravated driving.
Other cities are also seeing success with ISA technology. New York City is expanding its ISA pilot program after an 82% decrease in speeding on high-speed roads and a 64% overall decline in speeding among 500 city fleet vehicles.
While California considered a bill that would have required all new vehicles sold or leased in the state to be equipped with passive intelligent speed assistance systems, it is currently stalled in the state assembly. Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar measure last year, citing concerns about creating a “patchwork of regulations” that could undermine federal vehicle safety standards.
Advocates hope that more states will consider implementing ISA technology to reduce reckless driving and improve road safety.
