Washington, United States, has said enough is enough to the problem of speeding on the roads and has decided to take action. It has not yet come into force and its implementation will take a few years for all parties to take the necessary measures, but repeat offenders who have been charged with speeding will no longer be a threat to other drivers. This is thanks to the current BEAM legislation, House Bill 1596, sponsored by Rep.
Mari Leavitt. Under this new legislation, drivers considered high risk will be required to have an Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) device installed in their vehicle. This will allow authorities to ensure that offenders do not exceed speed limits again, as it monitors the position and speed of the vehicle via a real-time GPS limiter. Data provided by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission on traffic accidents shows that one-third of road deaths in 2023 were caused by speeding.
Following the tragic accident in Renton that killed Buster B. Brown, Eloise Wilcoxson, Andrea Smith Hudson, and Matilda Wilcoxson—a mother and three children—the authorities decided to take action. In fact, the name of the law honors the initials of their names. Although we will still have to wait for this law to come into effect, it seems like a very good way to control those who believe themselves to be above others and above the law, and who put the lives of other drivers at risk.
Traffic accidents caused by speeding
It seems that speeding is becoming increasingly common across the country. However, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission reported data on road accidents in 2023, with a total of 800 deaths. Most concerning is that of that total, one-third were accidents caused by speeding. And if that weren’t enough, those responsible were often repeat offenders who chose to drive with suspended licenses. That is why the authorities have decided that measures must be taken, especially after the accident in Renton that claimed the lives of three children and one woman: Buster B. Brown, Eloise Wilcoxson, Andrea Smith Hudson, and Matilda Wilcoxson. It is in honor of these victims that the new regulation has been named BEAM.
BEAM Law
Sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt, the BEAM legislation, currently House Bill 1596, has been established for high-risk drivers. Although it has not yet come into force pending consideration of all measures, it is considered an effective solution for kamikaze drivers who choose to speed on the roads. The courts, citizens, police, and device manufacturers still need to prepare.
However, through this new legislation, drivers considered high-risk will have to carry an Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) device in their vehicles. This is a GPS limiter that will allow the authorities to monitor the location and speed of repeat offenders at all times. In addition, drivers will have to bear the cost of installing and removing the device, as well as receiving a penalty if they tamper with it.
Sweeping Traffic Law
The state of Washington has considered removing speeding tickets and prohibiting police from conducting traffic stops. It is believed that this decision may have been motivated by the enactment of this new law. The official website of the Washington State House of Representatives outlines the state’s intentions, which go beyond suspending reckless drivers to taking measures to restrict them. This long-awaited law has already been signed. Now we just have to wait for the bureaucratic procedures to run their course so that we can see them in action on the roads as soon as possible.
Alaska has also taken severe measures to combat speeding drivers. Find more about it here!