BALTIMORE, MD—A new bill under consideration in Maryland aims to curb dangerous driving by requiring repeat reckless driving offenders to install Intelligent Speed Assistance devices in their vehicles. House Bill 1139, sponsored by Baltimore County Delegate Nick Allen, was the subject of testimony last week by Montgomery County Police Sgt. Patrick Kepp, who shared his experience as a victim of a severe speeding incident.

Kepp, who lost both of his legs after being hit by a speeding driver in October 2023, urged lawmakers to support the bill. Following months of hospitalization, he can now walk using prosthetics. Kepp emphasized the importance of holding dangerous drivers accountable and preventing future tragedies.

“Traffic enforcement making those traffic stops trying to take the dangerous off the road or stop them from continuing those driving behaviors is really important to me,” Kepp said.

The bill specifically targets drivers convicted multiple times of reckless driving, racing, or speeding-related license suspensions.

If passed, HB 1139 would mandate Intelligent Speed Assistance technology in the vehicles of these offenders. This system functions as a permanent speed limiter, restricting a car’s speed to a maximum of nine miles per hour over the legal limit, adjusting automatically based on location.

“The idea here is again it is a tool in the toolbox to make sure that people who commit these infractions are held accountable,” explained Delegate Allen.

The bill comes as Maryland grapples with the consequences of speeding-related accidents. In 2023 alone, the state recorded 7,705 speed-involved crashes, resulting in 102 fatalities and 3,225 injuries. One such incident, the March 22, 2023, crash on I-695 in Baltimore County, claimed the lives of six highway workers. Troopers said two cars crashed at a high rate of speed, with one of the cars careening into the work zone.

“We recognize speed is certainly a danger on our roadways no matter where you are driving, whether you’re on a highway or whether you’re driving in a city,” said Ragina Ali, representing AAA’s Public and Government Affairs.

This legislation mirrors similar initiatives enacted in Washington D.C. and introduced in states like Virginia and Arizona. Proponents hope that by implementing Intelligent Speed Assistance technology, it will help change how people drive and make roads safer.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

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