Key Highlights
- State Senator Andrew Gounardes plans to demonstrate speed-limiter technology at a test drive on Wednesday.
- The proposed “Stop Super Speeders Act” aims to install speed governors in cars with 16 speeding or red-light camera tickets within a year.
- Governance challenges and political dynamics are affecting the passage of safety-related legislation.
- Brooklyn residents are encouraged to observe the demonstration at Seventh Avenue and 18th Street, Brooklyn.
Reigniting Safety Legislation: Gounardes’ Test Drive for Speed Limiters
State Senator Andrew Gounardes (D-Bay Ridge) is set to lead a test drive on Wednesday in Brooklyn, aiming to highlight the effectiveness of speed-limiter technology. This demonstration comes as part of an ongoing effort by local lawmakers to address reckless driving and improve road safety.
A Speed-Limit Solution?
Gounardes, along with other advocates for safer streets, has introduced legislation aimed at curbing excessive speeding through the installation of speed governors in vehicles. The proposed “Stop Super Speeders Act” (S4045) would mandate that cars driven by individuals who accumulate 16 or more speed-camera tickets within a 12-month period be equipped with such devices.
This amendment to the original bill, which required speed limiters after six speeding or red-light camera tickets in a year, has been met with some controversy. Gounardes argues that this adjustment is not only necessary but also straightforward: “It doesn’t take away the car; it doesn’t suspend a license; it just makes driving more responsible.”
Political Dynamics and Legislative Challenges
The success of such legislation hinges on overcoming significant political hurdles. Despite the perceived simplicity and effectiveness of speed governors, Gounardes faces resistance from fellow legislators who have watered down or delayed the bill’s passage in previous sessions.
“If Gounardes’s craven colleagues had passed this bill in the 2025 legislative session, we would already be seeing these devices on more reckless drivers,” Senator Gounardes emphasized. “The amended bill is a no-brainer that should easily pass with bipartisan support.”
Brooklyn Residents’ Role
The demonstration at Seventh Avenue and 18th Street in Brooklyn, scheduled for 11:30 a.m., invites media outlets and the public to witness firsthand how this technology operates. According to Gounardes’s office, reporters will be able to “test-drive the vehicle on a 10-minute route that includes the Prospect Expressway as well as local Brooklyn streets.”
“This is your chance to see for yourself,” Senator Gounardes’s aide, Billy Richling, noted. “We’re excited to show everyone how this simple solution can significantly enhance road safety without infringing on individual freedoms.”
