The American state of New York has approved the introduction of technology that will be able to physically limit the maximum speed of the vehicles of those drivers who frequently and seriously violate traffic regulations. Governor Kathy Hochul signed a legislative package aimed at curbing speeding and increasing the general safety of citizens, the main innovation of which is a pilot program aimed at “super-speeding” drivers in New York City itself.
Only for the worst offenders
As part of this program, those drivers who are found to have a pattern of ignoring traffic rules and endangering their fellow citizens will be legally forced to install intelligent speed limit devices in their vehicles. The governor’s office emphasized that these devices will prevent drivers from exceeding the speed limit, which will directly affect the prevention of tragedies.
The criterion for the forced introduction of this electronic limiter is extremely high. Drivers should accumulate at least 16 speeding tickets within a calendar year to activate the obligation to install the device in the car. In this way, it directly targets only the chronic and most dangerous offenders on the roads.
Anticipated and stricter penalties
If the driver who has fulfilled the stated condition refuses to comply with the law and does not install a speed limiter, extremely strict sanctions are foreseen for this. Such violators face a fine ranging from US$1,500 to US$2,500. If even that measure does not bear fruit, the authorities can resort to a temporary suspension of the vehicle’s registration, which completely prevents the car from legally participating in traffic.
Depending on the results achieved in the metropolitan area, the authorities leave open the possibility that this pilot program will be extended to other locations within that federal state in the future. A similar move was recently announced in the US state of Virginia.