In a big win for road safety, the Washington State House passed the excessive speeding bill on Tuesday, March 11. House Bill 1596 passed by a wide margin — 84 votes in favor, 12 against and two members excused. The bill has undergone significant changes since it was first introduced, most notably in how “excessive speeding” is defined.
Originally, the bill defined “excessive speeding” as driving 20 miles per hour (mph) or more over the speed limit, regardless of the posted limit. However, following an amendment passed by the House, the definition has been refined to set a two-tiered threshold:
- For roads with a posted speed limit of 40 mph or less, “excessive speeding” is now defined as going 10 mph or more over the limit.
- For roads with a posted speed limit above 40 mph, the threshold remains at 20 mph or more over the speed limit.
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Excessive speeding bill introduces ISA devices
The bill also introduces Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) devices. These devices use GPS technology to monitor a vehicle’s speed and can prevent the driver from exceeding the posted speed limit, with a few exceptions. For drivers convicted of reckless driving or those who have accumulated a certain number of speeding violations, these devices will become mandatory during a probationary period following their license suspension to help ensure they comply with speed limits.
Another important amendment delays the bill’s original effective date from 2027 to July 1, 2028. This extension will give authorities more time to properly roll out and test the technology…