Excessive speeding on the roads is becoming a serious problem in practically every state in the United States. Over the past year, penalties related to illegal driving have been tightened across almost the entire country, given that many drivers do not prioritize their safety or the safety of other drivers. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one-third of road deaths were related to speeding in 2023. In response to this situation, Rep. Quang Nguyen has announced that he will soon introduce a bill that will change the consequences of speeding in the state of Arizona.
If passed, all repeat speeding offenders could be required to equip their cars with a speed-limiting device. As Toby Taylor, the compliance director at the Steer Safe Coalition (an association between vehicle interlock providers LifeSafer and Smart Start), explains, it is a dead pedal that will not accelerate the vehicle beyond the set limit. These measures aim to achieve safe driving and greater control over speed. If drivers do not comply with state legislation, authorities are forced to implement this type of more restrictive measures.
Road safety: one of the biggest challenges in the United States
During 2025, virtually all states in the United States have modified their state laws related to road safety. In response to reckless driving behavior, the changes have been severe, toughening the consequences for those who break the laws. The problem is not only creating new laws that increase penalties, but also ensuring that drivers comply with them. For drivers, it is easy to recognize the danger of driving under the influence of alcohol without the need for such strict penalties.
However, the same does not happen with speeding, which was responsible for a third of road deaths in 2023, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Nevertheless, despite the fact that it has been shown that an increase in speed is directly proportional to the risk of serious injuries in traffic accidents, drivers seem not to consider it a serious threat.
Anti-speeding measures in Arizona
In this scenario, state authorities have been taking measures to combat this behavior on the roads. In the case of Arizona, Rep. Quang Nguyen has wanted to go beyond fines and jail sentences. He has announced that he will soon present a bill through which all drivers convicted of speeding who are also repeat offenders will be able to install a speed-limiting device in their vehicles. For now, it is just a bill that has not yet been presented, let alone approved, but there is a lot of hope placed in it.
The partnership between vehicle interlock providers LifeSafer and Smart Start, Steer Safe Coalition, is responsible for creating legislation for speed-limiting tracking devices across the country. Its director, Toby Taylor, explained, “It is essentially a dead pedal. You can press the car and the vehicle simply won’t accelerate beyond the posted speed limit.” If the driver chooses this option, they will have to face a cost of between $100 and $250 for the installation of the device, in addition to $4 per day for using the device.
Alternatives to financial fines
This type of alternative to the traditional financial penalty aims to impose fair sentences based on the offender’s personal needs. For low-income drivers, having to face a hefty fine can be a real challenge. In addition, the suspension of a license can further perpetuate the cycle of poverty by causing people to lose their jobs without means to access transportation.
