NY bill would force bad drivers to install speed limit tech in cars after horror crash that killed mom, kids
Two state lawmakers are pushing a bill to force bad drivers to install tech on their cars that would stop them from going faster than 5 mph above the speed limit.The proposed law would target reckless drivers who either rack up at least six speed or red light camera tickets in a year or get 11 points on their licenses over two years, its sponsors said at a news conference at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Monday — two days after a disturbing Brooklyn crash that took the lives of a mother and her two children “The driver who took their lives, had 21 speeding tickets in the last two years – had six red light camera violations in the last six months and had 70 plus other violations in the last two years and was still able to get behind the wheel of a vehicle,” state Sen.Andrew Gounardes said of the driver Miriam Yarmini.Gounardes said the tech could’ve prevented the tragedy as he and others called to advance the bill, cosponsored with fellow Democrat Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher and first introduced in late January.The tech – which operates similarly to breathalyzer ignitions – is known as intelligent speed assistance technology, and is being installed in virtually all new cars sold in the European Union.Virginia became the first US state to pass similar legislation earlier in the month to stop dangerous drivers, and New York state has already tested the technology thoroughly.
“New York City did a pilot of 500 vehicles and they found that every single vehicle was able to drive within the limit and it did not impede the delivery of city services,” Gounardes explained.One concern among proponents for road safety is that he proposed law does not allow cars to be impounded for repeated speeding offenses.
Under laws today, cars in NYC can only be impounded if the driver has acquired $350 or more in parking or red light camera tickets.City Comptroller Brad Lander, who attended Monday’s news conference, had backed law as a City Council member coined the �...