Elected officials are ramping up pressure on Albany to pass the “Stop Super Speeders” bill, which would install “speed limiter” technology on vehicles of drivers with repeated speeding violations. The legislation has lingered in the state capital for years without enough support to become law, even as traffic deaths continue to outpace gun deaths in New York City for the second straight year, according to recent data.
The renewed push follows a horrific incident in Brooklyn over the weekend, where a driver with a suspended license fatally struck a mother and her two daughters as they crossed the street. The woman’s son, a fourth victim, remains in critical condition. This tragedy could finally propel the bill forward, bringing it to the forefront of what Brooklyn Assemblymember Emily Gallagher described as a logjam of countless stalled proposals.
“A lot of what happens when it comes to getting a bill to the top of the list is really through a movement and folks fighting for the bill,” said Gallagher, a co-sponsor of the legislation. She joined state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, another bill sponsor, and city Comptroller Brad Lander at a press conference Monday on the steps of Borough Hall in Downtown Brooklyn. They stood with members of Families for Safe Streets, demanding swift action.
The bill would mandate intelligent speed assistance technology for drivers who rack up 11 or more license points in 24 months or receive six speed or red-light camera tickets in a year. “It’s no longer simply enough to shake our heads in despair when these preventable tragedies occur — it’s time for us to act,” Gounardes said. “The senselessness of this most recent crash is compounded by the fact that this car had dozens of speed and red-light violations, and the driver had a suspended license.”
The proposal echoes the unimplemented Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Act, which aimed to require safety courses for repeat offenders or risk vehicle confiscation. It also resembles current state law mandating ignition interlock devices for those convicted of drunk driving.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office has not yet indicated whether she backs the “Stop Super Speeders” bill, leaving its fate uncertain.
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4 Responses
Absolutely fascinating that they want to limit the speed of a reckless driver after so many times but it doesn’t occur to them to suspend their license and confiscate their vehicle if they’re caught driving again. No just leave them on the road no matter how bad they prove themselves
They should make it illegal to drive faster than a stated speed. Anyone caught speeding should have to pay a fine. This is sure to deter people from speeding.
Meno- she was speeding on ocean parkway. The speed limit is 25 and there is speed cameras ALL over ocean parkway that’s why she had a ton of speeding campers tickets!
Let me preface by saying I generally do not speed. I drive a minivan which keeps things pretty real…
However I do think that this constant lowering of the speed limit to unreasonable low limits is ridiculous, especially on large streets. Brooklyn has limits of 25 miles an hour which is pretty slow when ocean parkway is empty.
Now they’re even lowering some areas to 20.
Now if you are going 36 you are speeding. Personally I think that’s not a fair statement to say 36 is “speeding” , although it is past the speed limit. I try to explain to my teens that speed is really relative to the cars around you. If everyone is going ten miles then 20 is speeding. If you’re on the highway and everyone is going 80, I’ll be going 80 also.
I do caution my teens that side streets are more dangerous because many people cross not on the corner. Ocean parkway it is rare to see a jaywalker.