New Speed Limiter Device Aims to Curb Reckless Driving

A new device designed to limit car speeds is on the horizon, utilizing GPS technology to connect with a vehicle’s ignition system. Its goal? To rein in reckless drivers who’ve amassed multiple speeding offenses.

The proposed state law could see about 3,000 habitual offenders outfitted with these devices at a cost of $1,000 each. Reports highlighted a recent test drive, offering a peek into life for speeders being forced into the slow lane.

“This technology does work,” remarked Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a co-sponsor of the bill, during a demonstration on the South Slope. The initiative is part of the Stop Super Speeders Act, aimed at addressing the long-standing issue of speeding in the city.

This bill would require chronic speeders to have the device installed in their vehicles for up to a year. Gounardes noted there’s currently a lack of effective solutions for persistent offenders. Last year, the city’s most problematic speeders leveraged more than 2,700 speed cameras, according to city data.

“We need to think outside the box,” he emphasized. “If we can deter even 1,000 or 2,000 of the most dangerous drivers, that could save lives.”

The bill targets individuals who rack up 16 or more speeding tickets within a year, as well as those accumulating 11 or more points on their license over 18 months. Court orders for this technology focus on the drivers, not the vehicles themselves, and driving without the speed limiter could lead to legal consequences.

Judges have the discretion to set a speed buffer for the device, typically a 5-mph cushion over the speed limit, and it automatically adjusts for different zones. This means drivers can still go about their daily routines—like commuting to work or dropping kids off at school—while hopefully learning to drive more responsibly.

A previous iteration of the legislation suggested that drivers with a history of six or more speed-related tickets in a year would also be mandated to install the device.

The state Senate approved the device’s promotion in 2024, and Gounardes remains optimistic about its chances in the General Assembly. Similar measures have been rolled out in Washington state, Virginia, and even New York City as part of a 2022 pilot program.

That pilot proved quite successful, with plans to outfit 7,000 non-emergency vehicles with the technology set for the future.

This legislative push follows a tragic car accident on Brooklyn’s Ocean Parkway that resulted in the deaths of a mother and her two children. Gounardes pointed out that the driver involved had been cited for 90 speeding-related violations previously, suggesting that if this technology had been in place, those lives might have been saved.

Support for the bill comes from individuals like Darnell Seeley McCrory, who lost his 13-year-old daughter, Nielle, due to a speeding driver. His emotional plea on the Prospect Parkway overpass underscored the urgency of the issue: “My mother and I never expected to bury our daughter so soon. If we don’t do something, another life will be taken.”