Following the law can easily prevent reckless driving, a dangerous behavior that frequently results in collisions and fatalities, and unfortunately, it is more common than it should be.
One state is mandating speed-limiting devices for repeat offenders in an effort to reduce this conduct and discourage drivers from driving too fast on the roads.
Reckless driving laws and dangers drivers should know
Let’s first review the definition of “reckless driving”: It typically refers to driving in a way that is considered irresponsible or dangerous to other people. This includes, among other things, exceeding the speed limit, not controlling your vehicle properly, passing dangerously, not respecting signals, and driving too fast in unsafe circumstances.
Classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor, reckless driving carries the same penalties as trespassing and public intoxication, including jail time, fines of up to $2,500, or both. If a major incident happens while driving recklessly, it could be classified as a felony, which in that case, carries far more severe punishments.
It takes just a few minutes, for a reckless driver to put everyone else in danger by making the roads unpredictable and dangerous. A minor error can end up in a major collision, injuring not only the driver but also other motorists, pedestrians, and other road users.
Virginia is installing speed limiters in the cars of repeat offenders trying to reduce this risky behavior.
Using speed limiters to combat risky reckless driving
House Bill 2096 in Virginia is designed to provide safety on the road, but also giving reckless drivers an alternative other than jail time or license suspension. The bill suggests speed-limiting devices that use GPS or other techniques to track an automobile’s speed in relation to the posted limit, thereby capping the vehicle’s speed.
Although this may seem like a hard solution, the penalties for this offense are even harsher in other states. In fact, this bill could save offenders time and money by preventing speeding tickets because of the automatic speed-limiting device.
People can still drive wherever they need to go as long as they stay within the speed limit.
Offenders would have to pay for these devices, and if they were tampered trying to alter or disassemble them, the driver would be charged with a misdemeanor that could result in jail time.
Although some officials supported giving these devices to anyone found exceeding the speed limit by more than 100 mph, the judge in each case currently has the final say.
These devices come in different models; some are now commonly used in fleet cars and commercial trucks; others use GPS to identify the local speed limit and warn drivers if they are exceeding it; and others physically stop the vehicle from exceeding a certain speed, which is perhaps the best choice for safer roads.
Combating careless speeding is not a one-city job.
There are fast drivers exceeding limits everywhere, and Virginia is not the only city doing something about it. A similar law is being proposed in New York.
“This is about getting drivers to change their behavior. It’s not really focused on punishing people. We’re not used to that. We’re much more used to a carceral system, but this is a behavioral change,” says Emily Gallagher, a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly.
Overall, compared to fines or license suspension, which are typically the case, speed-limiting devices seem to be a more gentle but still behavior-changing implementation for drivers to adopt.
Also, for some reason, most people get very annoyed when they receive fines; and when authorities are around, they tend to act more responsibly.
If this initiative does well in Virginia and New York, other cities may join the efforts to make roads (and pedestrians) feel safer in the United States.
