A NEW speed control law is being introduced that will require certain drivers to install an “override” feature, limiting their ability to accelerate beyond a set speed.
Lawmakers across the country are raising concerns around so-called “super-speeders” – drivers who recklessly exceed speed limits, posing a serious threat to other road users and pedestrians with their blatant disregard for traffic safety.
GettySpeeding drivers may be forced to install a new device that limits their ability to accelerate beyond a set speed[/caption] GettyOne state has already passed a bill giving judges the option of requiring the device if a driver exceeded 100 mph[/caption] GettyIt comes as law makers fear ‘super speeders’ who pose a serious threat to other road users and pedestrians[/caption]A recent report by Fast Company cites one such instance of a driver in North Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2022, who flew through an intersection at 103 mph, killing himself and eight other people.
Indeed, super-speeding is worryingly common and saw law enforcement in Rhode Island, for example, issue 292 tickets to drivers exceeding 100 mph.
In another instance, Ohio’s highway patrol cited 38 people for doing so in a single day.
Worse still, while automated speed cameras provide a means of enforcement, their deployments are often mired in controversy – with camera-based ticketing banned in many states.
Even when speeders are caught, penalties are limited to a fine or a driver’s education class, while a federally funded study found that 75% of people that have their licences suspended continued to drive.
This may eventually see law-makers turn to tech to help them curb super-speeders – with various state legislators exploring the use of something known as an Intelligent Speed Assist, or ISA.
ISA systems, which can be installed while a car is manufactured or afterward, uses GPS to identify the speed limit on a road segment.
It can then deter drivers from going more than a programmed amount beyond it – meaning extreme speeding becomes difficult or even impossible.
There are two versions available, with a passive ISA system using tactile or audible warnings that attract the driver’s attention.
But an “active” system blocks additional acceleration after the maximum threshold is reached – working through the gas pedal, instead of the brake.
Popular with researchers, safety advocates, and policymakers, the ISA system was adopted by the European Union last year – requiring all new cars to contain passive ISA.
Now, in the US, the National Transportation Safety Board has called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, to impose a similar mandate.
However, the agency has shown no signs of doing so, meaning state leaders are looking to take action.
It led to California State Senator Scott Wiener to propose a bill requiring ISA on all new cars sold in the state, which duly passed both of California’s legislative chambers – before it was eventually vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
However, this has led to a new wave of state bills in approving the application of ISA technology.
What’s more, many are keen for the use of active ISA – asking for it to be placed on vehicles owned by people with a history of reckless speeding.
It saw the District of Columbia become the first jurisdiction to pass such a law.
Virginia has also passed its own bill, giving judges the option of requiring ISA if a driver exceeded 100 mph.
Arizona, California, Georgia, Maryland, and New York are now considering their own proposals – with the inclusion of a limited “override” feature allowing further acceleration during an emergency.
One view in favor of the system looks at a single car with ISA, which can prevent multiple drivers behind it from recklessly accelerating.
To that end, even a small number of ISA-equipped vehicles could have an impact on regional or even national road safety.
How to fight a speeding ticket
According to a legally reviewed post, there are five effective strategies to fighting a speeding ticket if it was wrongfully issued.
If pulled over and issued a ticket, drivers can argue or dispute a driver’s personal opinion. When issuing a speeding ticket, an officer is required to write their opinion and come to an “objective” conclusion. If the ticket was written based on that judgment, it can be contested. An example would be if you were going 75 mph in a 65 mph zone because others were traveling at the same speed, you could argue that it would be more dangerous to travel at 65 mph. You can dispute the officer’s presentation of evidence. If you were ticketed for something like running a stop sign or making an illegal u-turn, you can’t contest that if an officer saw you, but you can call things into court like eyewitnesses, diagrams, or photos. Argue that the ticket was issued by a “mistake of fact.” This is tricky, but a “mistake of fact” is a mistake made by a driver about a situation that was beyond their control, or if a driver legitimately did not know they were violating the law. For example, you were driving in two lanes because the lane markers were so worn down that you could not see them. You could say circumstances justified your driving. You could say you were speeding to pass a possibly drunk driver, or avoiding an accident by rapidly changing lanes. However, the argument won’t work if there’s proof you continued to speed after passing. Similar to the above, it could be argued that speeding was necessary to avoid harm. The key is to argue that if you weren’t speeding, you or someone else could have been harmed. Consult a traffic attorney, if all else fails. Many have free consultations to decide whether or not there’s a case.Source: FindLaw
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