In New York, there is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing road safety for all drivers. This effort focuses on implementing Intelligent Speed Assistant technology in vehicles owned by repeat offenders of speed regulations. State Senator Andrew Gounardes is at the forefront of this movement, sponsoring the proposed “Stop Super Speeders Act.”
Details of the Intelligent Speed Assistant Bill
The legislation mandates that drivers who accrue 11 or more points on their driving license within 18 months, or who receive at least 16 speed camera tickets in a single year, must have the speed-limiting technology installed in their cars. According to Gounardes, an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles will initially be impacted by this law.
- Bill Name: Stop Super Speeders Act
- Points Threshold: 11 points in 18 months
- Speed Camera Tickets: 16 in one year
- Estimated Vehicles Affected: 3,000 – 4,000
How the Technology Works
The Intelligent Speed Assistant utilizes GPS to monitor and enforce speed limits. If a driver attempts to exceed the set speed, the device restricts acceleration. Under the proposed law, drivers would only be allowed to exceed the speed limit by up to 5 mph in emergencies.
This technology is similar to ignition interlock devices used for drivers convicted of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). The responsibility for purchasing this device, which costs approximately $1,000, would fall on the offenders.
Legislative Progress and Concerns
The bill has already received approval in the Senate. Advocates are hopeful that it will progress through the Assembly in the upcoming year. Nonetheless, some lawmakers have raised concerns regarding the enforcement of the law and potential loopholes, such as drivers swapping vehicles. Critics argue this might introduce another layer of government regulation.
In response to worries about government oversight, Gounardes emphasized the importance of safe driving practices. “The answer is to be very smart behind the wheel, because it could be you next,” he stated.
Support from Families for Safe Streets
Families for Safe Streets is a group advocating for the bill, driven by personal loss. Darnell Sealy-McCrorey, who lost his 13-year-old daughter, Niyell, in a tragic accident, passionately supports the legislation. He reflects on how the installation of such devices could have potentially saved his daughter’s life.
- Advocacy Group: Families for Safe Streets
- Spokesperson: Darnell Sealy-McCrorey
- Daughter: Niyell, deceased
- Age at Time of Passing: 13 years
As the community prepares to remember what would have been Niyell’s 15th birthday, Sealy-McCrorey urges all drivers to prioritize safety by slowing down.
