Keeping drivers and other road users safe on the road is a top priority for law and policy makers at both a federal and state level. Driving laws and policies are often subject to change due to the constant changing nature of the roads. With increasingly advanced technology being seen on the road and changes to traffic due to increased population sizes; road policies and legislation to adapt. With speeding being a particular concern across the nation, this one state is set to crack down on excessive speeders.
Keeping drivers and other road users safe on the road
According to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding accounted for approximately one third of all driving related serious injuries and fatalities. The extent to which you are speeding has been shown to be directly correlated to the increase in risk of serious injury and fatality on the road not just for you, but also for other road users.
When you are speeding, you have less time to react to unpredictability on the road. You reduce your following distance behind slower drivers, meaning that you have less time to brake or slow down if the driver in front of you suddenly decreases their speed. In bad weather conditions you also have an increased chance of losing control of your vehicle if you are speeding.
In response to speeding drivers, states across the nation have been implementing stricter penalties for drivers who are caught breaking the law. From increased fines, lowered speed limits, and even the risk of jail time, states are ensuring that there are severe consequences for speeding drivers; particularly those who are deemed to be excessively speeding.
New technology for these speeding drivers in this state
As a response to the growing incidences of speeding drivers, Washington state has recently passed new legislation which could see drivers who are caught driving excessively over the speed limit be forced to implement speed-limiting technology. Washington House Bill 1596 describes how drivers who have been convinced of excessively speeding over the speed limit and have subsequently had their licenses suspended may have their licenses reinstated, provided that they have a speed-limiting device installed in their vehicle.
Known as an Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) device, this technology uses GPS technology and road sign recognition in order to prevent a driver from driving over the speed limit. ISA has the benefit of being able to adjust the speed limitation of the vehicle depending on the location of the vehicle as opposed to locking the vehicle at one set speed limit.
“Installing intelligent speed assistance devices in vehicles will guarantee that drivers physically cannot exceed the speed limit,” said Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, during the floor debate in April where the Senate passed the bill
Stricter measures across states to prevent excessive speeding
As part of the new Washington bill, drivers will be permitted to disable the speed limitations of the device up to three times in one month in order to account for cases where speeding may be necessary. This override of the technology will only be permitted in legally permissible passing zones and will be tracked electronically.
While a speed-limiting device may seem somewhat excessive, states across the nation are coming down hard on drivers who are caught speeding in order to protect the safety of road users. In Florida, the state recently passed new legislation which would see excessive speeders need to serve at least 30 days in jail if convicted. North Dakota has also recently introduced a new tiered fining system on account for the state raising the interstate speed limit in order to remind drivers the responsibility that have to drive within legal limits.
