Speed Limiters in New York: Big Brother Monitoring Your Speed?
According to Motor Authority, officials in New York are currently considering a bill that would require speed limiters in new vehicles. The speed limiters would be set to the local maximum speed limit and use GPS and traffic sign recognition technology to determine the speed limit. The system has been named Active Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA).
Senate Bill S9528
Senate Bill S9528 was introduced by Manhattan State Senator Brad Hoylman on August 12th and, if passed, would require any vehicle manufactured or registered in New York to be fitted with the ISA system starting from January 1st, 2024. The bill cites a study that shows such a system could reduce traffic fatalities by 20%.
In addition to the speed limiters, the bill also calls for the implementation of existing active safety systems such as automatic emergency braking, active lane control, blind-spot monitors with pedestrian detection, driver drowsiness detection, and even a data event recorder, also starting from January 1st, 2024.
New York City’s ISA System Trial
If the thought of this system sounds like something out of a dystopian science fiction film, it might interest you to know that New York City is already running a trial with 50 vehicles from the city’s fleet fitted with the ISA system. The trial will run for six months. New York City’s mayor, Eric Adams, stated that “speeding ruins lives, so we must take action to prevent it, and New York City is leading by example by implementing new technology to reduce speeds on city fleet vehicles.”
Critics of the System
However, not everyone is on board with the proposed system. Critics argue that there are certain circumstances in which it’s vital to be able to exceed the speed limit, such as during merging. A potential solution to this issue could be to introduce the limit in stages, with a warning bell if the speed limit is exceeded and a more serious warning before the vehicle’s speed is automatically reduced.
It’s also not hard to imagine officials using the system to constantly monitor a driver’s speed and automatically issue fines if the speed limit is exceeded. However, a saving grace is that safety standards for new vehicles, unlike emissions standards, are set at the federal level, so it remains to be seen if New York officials will be able to implement the bill even if it is passed.
The Bill’s Current Status
As of now, the bill is still in committee, meaning it is under consideration. It has not yet passed the New York State Senate or State Assembly, and if it does pass, it would still need to be signed into law or vetoed by the governor.
In conclusion, the proposed bill for speed limiters in New York is a controversial issue with valid arguments on both sides. On one hand, the implementation of such a system could lead to a reduction in traffic fatalities. On the other hand, there are concerns about the potential for the system to restrict driver’s freedom and the possibility of officials using it for monitoring and fining purposes. Only time will tell what the outcome of this bill will be.
