Many new cars come with traffic sign recognition tech. The gauge cluster in my GR Corolla loves to blink a red speed limit sign as soon as the car travels even one mph above the posted limit, but it does not actively limit the vehicle’s speed. Some states are passing legislation that could change that behavior, however, as Washington state recently joined Virginia with a law that punishes speeding drivers with speed limiting technology.
In May, Washington’s governor signed the law, which requires drivers with suspended licenses due to speeding to have intelligent speed assistance (ISA) devices installed in their cars if they want to continue driving, similar to the blow-to-start breathalyzer devices used after a person gets an intoxicated driving charge.
The tech monitors drivers’ speed and can prevent them from traveling faster than the posted limits. Washington state hopes the law will help reduce the number of fatal crashes on its roadways, which increased almost 40 percent between 2019 and 2023.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said, “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.” While this probably feels like government overreach, these legislators are only focused on speeders at the moment. That said, the movement is gaining traction in other states, with five others considering similar legislation.
[Images: Yi Bao, vladdon, VDB photos via Shutterstock]
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