OLYMPIA, WA — With traffic deaths surging to a 33-year high in Washington and similar trends nationwide, several U.S. states are taking aggressive steps to reduce reckless driving — not just through fines and penalties, but through technology.
GPS-powered speed limiter devices, long used in commercial fleets, may soon become common in personal vehicles, especially for high-risk drivers.
What Are Intelligent Speed Limiters?
These devices cap a vehicle’s speed using GPS and mapping data to match posted limits. Unlike passive speed warnings, they actively prevent a car from exceeding the legal limit, unless manually overridden.
- Override limit: 3 times/month
- Similar to ignition interlocks used for DUI offenders
- Goal: Reduce deadly high-speed crashes
Washington State Sets a New Standard
This week, Governor Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 1596, requiring speed limiters for drivers who want a restricted license after a reckless driving or excessive speeding suspension.
-
Effective timeline: Phased in over the next few years
-
Mandatory use for:
-
Driving 20+ mph over the speed limit on roads posted above 40 mph
-
Driving 10+ mph over the limit on slower roads
-
-
Probation duration:
-
120 days for excessive speeding
-
150 days for reckless driving
-
Violators face further suspension
-
The law is named in memory of Boyd Buster Brown, Eloise Wilcoxson, Andrea Smith Hudson, and Matilda Wilcoxson, who were tragically killed by a repeat speeding offender near Renton in 2023.
Other States Following Suit
- Virginia: Judges can now order GPS limiters for drivers clocked at 100+ mph
- Georgia: A similar bill has passed the legislature and awaits the governor’s signature
- Washington, D.C.: Requires speed governor devices for repeat offenders
- California: Proposed a passive limiter law, but Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed it
While the U.S. lags behind Europe, where all new cars are required to have intelligent speed assist, momentum is growing across American states.
Read Also: California’s New Privacy Law Specialization Could Reshape Legal Landscape in LA
Why It Matters
Data from Washington shows speeding contributed to one-third of all traffic deaths in 2023.
Nationally, reckless driving — including speeding and distracted driving — is a leading cause of fatal crashes. Lawmakers and safety advocates believe this type of tech could be a game-changer.
“Drivers should not be allowed to continue risking lives after repeated violations,” said one Washington lawmaker. “This is about saving lives, not punishing drivers.”
Your Turn: Should Speed Limiters Be Required for Repeat Offenders?
Do you think this is a smart use of technology or government overreach? Have you ever witnessed reckless driving that could’ve been prevented with a speed limiter?
Join the conversation at ridgecrestpact.org. Share your thoughts in the comments and help us build a safer future for all
