Virginia Will Require Speed Limiting Devices on Reckless Drivers’ Cars

Virginia now has a law on the books that will require that cars of reckless drivers be equipped with technology that prohibits them from exceeding speed limits.

The new law (HB2096), which will not be effective until July 2026, requires a court to order enrollment in what is known as an intelligent speed assistance (ISA) program for any person convicted of reckless driving who was found to have been driving in excess of 100 miles per hour.

For others who are repeat offenders and have accumulated a certain amount of demerit points, the Department of Motor Vehicles would be required to offer this program as an alternative to a license suspension or jail time.

“It will make our streets safer,” said a key sponsor, Del. Patrick A. Hope (D-Arlington).

“The passing of HB2096 is a step in the right direction to make our roads safer and protect families from the devastating impact of reckless driving,” said Tammy McGee, whose 16-year-old son Conner Guido was killed by a reckless driver. “I hope that by installing speed-limiting technology on the vehicles of those who choose to repeatedly speed, we can save lives and prevent other families from enduring the same heartbreak we’ve experienced.”

The judge will decide how long the driver must remain in the program.

The Virginia law will be applicable only to private passenger, not commercial vehicles. The drivers are to pay the costs. The driver would be barred from driving any vehicle without the program.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Road to Zero Coalition, Families for Safe Streets and other safety advocates have urged automakers, regulators and fleet operators to promote ISA and speed limiters to help address a spike in traffic deaths since 2020. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, close to 30% of traffic fatalities involve excessive speed. In 2022, speeding killed more than 12,500 people.

ISA uses cameras to read speed limit signs or integrates maps of speed limits with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, according to the IIHS. Some systems alert drivers when they exceed the speed limit, while others limit power to the engine to keep them from going faster than the posted speed limit.

Virginia’s move comes after the District of Columbia passed similar legislation last year. Other states are considering legislation. Several municipalities, including Ventura County in California, the city of Somerville in Massachusetts, and New York City have begun pilots of the technology in their fleets. A number of private sector fleets have also reportedly deployed ISA.

Topics Personal Auto Virginia