Virginia Speed Limiter GPS Law For Reckless Drivers

[60fpshacks]

"In July 2026, Virginia will become the first state in the country to require drivers convicted of extreme reckless driving—specifically speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour—to install speed-limiting devices in their vehicles. Known as Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) systems, these devices use GPS and onboard vehicle data to prevent a car from exceeding the posted speed limit.

Signed into law by Governor Glenn Youngkin, this legislation gives courts the discretion to mandate ISA installation in lieu of, or in addition to, license suspension or incarceration. While the law’s goal is clear—curb high-speed repeat offenders through preventative technology—it opens the door to critical legal, constitutional, and logistical questions."

Read more: https://www.dischleylaw.com/blog/2025/april/virginia-s-speed-limiter-law-for-reckless-driver

 

[Jump_Ace]

That seems fair to me. I don't think it brings into such questions because, 'driving is a privilege, not a right.' We have strict limits on alcohol use and driving, why not excessive speed while driving.


Jerome

 

[daan]

When the speed limit goes from 60mph to 30mph, what does the car do?

Current car systems aren't smart enough to know exactly, with 100% accuracy, the speed limit of the road you're on.

I drove along here today. The road goes from a 30 to a 40 at this point. The wee image of a speed sign on my dashboard changed from 30 to 40 as it should at this point.

However, see that sign in the distance? Here it is close up.

The speed limit that my car thought the road was changed to 20 when I passed that sign but the actual speed limit did not change. The lights were not flashing. If I had this system, my car would have slowed down to 20 at that point therefore creating a hazard for other road users.

Now, I get that a GPS system would have helped here as there is only one road, but car GPS systems are not accurate enough to know if you're on a main road or the residential street that runs alongside, or even above or below in some cases, leading to the car going at the wrong speed for the road it's on.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

How would this work on older or pre-OBD systems?

 

[eran0004]

If I had this system, my car would have slowed down to 20 at that point therefore creating a hazard for other road users.

My understanding of the system is that it reduces the speed by cutting the throttle, so there shouldn't be any sudden changes in speed. If another driver hits you because of that, it would because they're tailgating or not paying attention to what's going on in front of them, in which case they are the hazard.

 

[daan]

My understanding of the system is that it reduces the speed by cutting the throttle, so there shouldn't be any sudden changes in speed. If another driver hits you because of that, it would because they're tailgating or not paying attention to what's going on in front of them, in which case they are the hazard.

So you don't see a car slowing down for no apparent reason and with no indication, and probably with a distracted driver trying to make their car go quicker and not paying attention to where they are going, as a hazard? You don't need to hit someone for them to be a hazard.

 

[eran0004]

So you don't see a car slowing down for no apparent reason and with no indication, and probably with a distracted driver trying to make their car go quicker and not paying attention to where they are going, as a hazard? You don't need to hit someone for them to be a hazard.

I don't think the driver would be distracted by it, as they would be familliar with the system. If the other drivers are paying attention they would see the 20 sign and probably guess that the driver ahead of them mistakenly thought it applied. Or perhaps that they spotted something that caused them to reduce the speed. In any case, all they've got to do is adjust their own driving accordingly.

It would probably be a nuisance, but the only hazard I see in that situation would be other drivers reacting badly to it and those drivers would be a hazard on the road anyway.

 

[Tornado]

What are the Constitutional questions, exactly?

How would this work on older or pre-OBD systems?

You just don't get your licence back in that case, I assume.

 

[Liquid]

What are the Constitutional questions, exactly?

"Do we really need to adhere to it?"

 

[wfooshee]

My thought is that on most US freeways, someone doing the speed limit is a menace to traffic flow, with allowances generally accepted of 10 mph over the limit before you need to worry. Lane discipline is already non-existent here for 95% of drivers, so I can see someone with this system parking in the left lane, just to be an ass...

 

[Keef]

That seems fair to me. I don't think it brings into such questions because, 'driving is a privilege, not a right.' We have strict limits on alcohol use and driving, why not excessive speed while driving.


Jerome

Same opinion. Driving is exactly like flying is for me, and if I break the rules bad enough I can ultimately be banned from flying ever again.

But the unfortunate thing about driving is that America's very lax attitude toward infrastructure has resulted in a society where driving is virtually required to survive and almost needs to be a right. Of course if I or many other people with ideas were in charge, that philosophy would get changed from the top down, starting with a complete redesign of cities and zoning and transit.

When the speed limit goes from 60mph to 30mph, what does the car do?

This is a network problem. The road network and its rules should be published in a database that all drivers and automated vehicles can access, and there should be a standardized system for publishing changes and publishing non-standard conditions. Again, just like aviation. Many newer airplanes have autothrottle systems and because their navigation databases are updated on a schedule established by law the plane displays and can follow all the speeds and other limitations published on procedures. Because the plane knows the procedures and its own performance data (which is also maintained to a standard) it makes the changes smoothly and predictably. The operater, the pilot, the driver, has the power to make changes and take over altogether if necessary.

We either need to standardize, standardize, standardize driving and train drivers appropriately, or we need to throw our hands up and quit bothering. Those are the two options in my opinion. It there isn't a foundation that works and makes sense virtually every time, then none of it will ever make sense.