Speed Limiters Coming to Washington: Protection or Control?

House Bill 1596, currently under review in the Washington State House, proposes installing speed-limiting devices in the cars of repeat speeders—specifically, those caught going 20 mph or more over the limit, engaging in street racing, or driving recklessly enough to have their license suspended.

The bill would require these drivers to install an "Intelligent Speed Assistance" (ISA) device, which caps acceleration based on GPS-monitored speed limits. However, the proposal isn’t entirely rigid—drivers would get three monthly overrides for situations where exceeding the limit is necessary, such as passing another vehicle.

State Representative Mari Leavitt (D-University Place), the bill’s primary sponsor, sees it as necessary to curb rising fatalities linked to reckless speeding. “We’re losing Washingtonians, and family members are losing loved ones unnecessarily, tragically, and preventably,” Leavitt testified, pointing to data showing that one in three fatal crashes in 2023 involved a speeding driver.

However, not everyone is convinced that ISA devices are the right solution. State Representative Gloria Mendoza (R-Grandview) questioned whether the bill offers habitual speeders a way to keep driving without real consequences. “So we’re trying to help them get back their license by giving them this tool. So how is this helping save lives?” Mendoza asked.

Washington’s driving community has even more divided opinions. Many netizens worry about the unintended consequences of restricting acceleration, especially in real-world driving situations where quick bursts of speed might be needed.

“And, on the frequent occasions where it's necessary to exceed the speed limit to avoid a collision, such as merging into freeway traffic that is usually way beyond the speed limit, there will be many more accidents.”

Others fear the law could lead to broader restrictions on all drivers. "I don't know anyone who hasn’t driven at least 1 mph over the speed limit at some point," another person pointed out. "It’s only a matter of time before this applies to everyone."

Then there’s the cost factor. Installing, maintaining, and removing these devices isn’t cheap, and some argue the financial burden unfairly falls on drivers.

“The devices aren't cheap. A family member had one for a DWI. There’s an installation cost, a monthly maintenance fee, a fee to reset the device if the device locks you out of your car, and an uninstall fee when the probationary period is over. Figure an estimated $1,000 one will pay out of pocket for the device.”

This speed-limiting tech isn’t entirely new—it’s already standard in Europe.

As of July 2024, all new cars sold in the EU and UK must come with Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology, meaning every driver—not just repeat offenders—has a built-in speed monitor. These European systems use GPS and camera-based traffic sign recognition to read speed limits and restrict acceleration accordingly.

However, there’s a big difference between Washington’s proposal and Europe’s approach. In the UK and EU, ISA systems can be temporarily overridden, but the car logs that data—meaning insurance companies could penalize drivers who frequently disable the limiter.

In the U.S., California lawmakers proposed a less restrictive approach—requiring new cars to alert drivers when they exceed speed limits. However, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the measure, arguing that such mandates were premature.

The bill is still in committee and has yet to be scheduled for a vote. If passed, Washington would become only the second state after Virginia to require speed limiters for convicted speeders. 

For now, the debate continues. Some say it’s a long-overdue safety measure, while others fear it’s the first step toward big-brother-style driving restrictions for everyone.

What do you think? Is this a step toward safer roads, or is Washington heading down a slippery slope of government-mandated driving restrictions?