A group of lawmakers in New York City’s Brooklyn borough are pushing for a new bill that would require speed limiters to be installed in the vehicles of serial speeders. According to a recent report by The New York Daily News, drivers who have multiple speed camera violations would be obligated to have aftermarket speed limiters installed in their cars.
The bill, which was proposed in the New York State legislature, aims to address the issue of repeat speed offenders who continue to accumulate speeding violations without facing significant consequences. Senator Andrew Gounardes, who is sponsoring the bill in the New York Senate, argues that fines alone are not enough to deter these drivers. He believes that implementing speed limiters would be a more effective measure.
The speed limiters, if the bill is passed, would restrict the vehicles from exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 5 mph. The devices would be installed in cars that have been flagged with six or more speed-camera violations. This enforcement mechanism would help reduce the possibilities of repeat speeding offenses and promote safer driving habits among motorists.
New York City skyline (by Flickr user AngMoKio)
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Currently, speed-camera violations in New York State do not result in driver’s license points since the automated system cannot definitively determine who was driving the vehicle at the time of the violation. Points on a driver’s license, which can lead to license suspension, are only added if a driver is pulled over by the police for speeding. However, the proposed bill seeks to go beyond this by requiring speed limiters to be installed in the cars of drivers who accumulate 11 points but do not have their licenses suspended.
This isn’t the first attempt to implement stricter speed regulations in New York. In 2022, another proposal was put forth to equip every car manufactured or registered in the state with a system called Active Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA). This system would use GPS and traffic sign recognition to determine the speed limit and prevent drivers from exceeding it. However, this bill failed to advance beyond the New York Senate Rules Committee.
By expanding the use of speed limiters and requiring their installation in the cars of serial speeders, lawmakers hope to make significant progress in curbing speeding violations and promoting road safety. While fines have proven to have limited effectiveness, the use of speed limiters provides a direct preventive measure against speeding. It would ensure that drivers cannot exceed the speed limit by more than a certain margin, thereby reducing the potential for accidents and reckless driving.
Implementing speed limiters could have far-reaching benefits for both drivers and pedestrians. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding was a contributing factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities in 2019. By mandating speed limiters for serial speeders, the chances of fatal accidents caused by excessive speeding could be significantly reduced.
Although some critics might argue that installing speed limiters infringes upon personal freedom and autonomy, the emphasis here lies on public safety. Serial speeders who repeatedly violate speed limits have exhibited a disregard for the safety of themselves and others on the road. By implementing speed limiters, their ability to continue engaging in dangerous driving behavior would be curtailed, ultimately reducing the risk to all road users.
Furthermore, it is essential to note that speed limiters would not impede regular driving for law-abiding motorists. Instead, they would primarily affect individuals who have a demonstrated history of repeatedly violating speed limits. For the majority of drivers who adhere to the speed limits, the presence of speed limiters would not have any noticeable impact on their daily commutes.
In conclusion, the proposed bill in New York City aims to address the issue of serial speeders by requiring them to install speed limiters in their vehicles. This measure is intended to provide a more effective consequence for repeat speed offenders and promote safer driving habits. By expanding the use of speed limiters, lawmakers hope to reduce the number of speeding violations and enhance road safety for all motorists and pedestrians. While there may be concerns about personal freedom, the overarching goal is to prioritize public safety and discourage reckless driving behavior.
