Speed is the one thing that has been a threat within towns, cities, and overall communities because of reckless drivers. For some, they see speed as a fun thing to do; some will be under the influence, and for some, it is just being reckless and breaking the law. From July 1, 2026, a speed-limiting device will be mandatory for a certain group of drivers. It might be a painful change for drivers, but it is a good thing for the road and other road users. Additionally, the open highways and wider roads seem to have been an opportunity for drivers to rush, and this has caused a lot of danger to the lives of people.
Speed has been an issue, but it looks like this state has found a solid solution
Speed has been an issue, right? As I have expressed at the beginning. But for the past years, drivers were given just warnings, fines, and small court cases, and it did not really work. Even though arrests have been made over the years, it has not been intensified enough. Just in recent years, various states in the United States have come up with intensified solutions, and they have invited technology too.
If you are a driver who likes to push the accelerator way too much, this new law is for you, and you might not like it. Oh well, whether drivers like it or not, it is an important one and will save many people from getting injured, not only other road users but drivers themselves. The laws placed here are also preventing reckless drivers from losing their own lives. So, what is this painful change for drivers?
Virginia will be the first state to mandate the installation of speed-limiting devices for careless drivers
So, every driver who is careless, reckless, or speeds too much will have to face this new rule. Virginia is the first state to initiate this new rule. The bill is the first in the United States to require such a restriction and was adopted under HB2096. Judges will have the power to mandate that drivers with a history of severe or persistent speeding have these devices installed in their vehicles once they become operational.
A speed limiter – what is it?
- It is a technologically advanced small cap that intentionally halts your car from speeding beyond a certain limit.
- It is electrical and is only legally installed by the legal authorities.
- A driver cannot manipulate it unless special access is granted.
There are mixed reactions from drivers regarding this issue
Reckless drivers will never like this rule, while it is not the first time, we have the state of Washington that has approved a mandatory speed limiter, and it will cost you $29 per month. It is not good news for some, but it is a good thing for those drivers. One driver from Richmond said,
“It’s like the government is babysitting us. I get the safety thing, but what if I need to accelerate to avoid a crash? Now I can’t?”
The end goal is life, protection, and safety. Some people commute to work or just to get to their nearest grocery store. Children commute to school, and there are school buses; therefore, this is just a limited list of why all this is happening. If the state had drivers who actually care about road rules and safety, perhaps this would not even be an issue; however, it is better to prevent it than to regret it. Sadly, other states like North Dakota have introduced a speed increase, which is very risky. 80 MPH becomes the new normal. For further details and information about this, read HB2096 in the Virginia General Assembly.
