Hochul wants 'speed limiters' for NYC residents with poor driving records

ALBANY — New York City residents with aggressive driving records would be required to have an anti-speed device installed in their vehicles under a pilot program proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday that eventually would be expanded statewide.

Called intelligent speed assistance, the program is part of the Democrat’s 2026 State of the State agenda and would target repeat offenders whose vehicles would be equipped with a device to prevent them from traveling more than a few miles per hour over the speed limit, according to Hochul’s policy proposal. 

Further information on the plan is expected to be included in Hochul’s Jan. 20 budget proposal, along with how she plans to pay for her agenda and address a $4.2 billion budget gap. The budget, which often includes policy proposals, is then negotiated between the governor and State Legislature. 

"We know that a disproportionate number of dangerous incidents on our roads are caused by a small group of bad actors who speed recklessly and endanger everyone's safety," Hochul said in an emailed statement. "Now, we are taking these super speeders on and working with the City of New York to end their fast and furious driving on our roads once and for all."

If the program proves successful, the pilot would be expanded to allow communities across the state to opt in, according to the proposal.

In 2025, nearly 500,000 drivers were ticketed for speeding statewide, 74,474 of whom were in New York City and 56,723 were on Long Island, according to preliminary data from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research. The largest number of drivers, about 73.5% or 368,199, were issued speeding tickets upstate, according to the preliminary data.

Data on how many of those drivers were repeat offenders and where the drivers were from was not immediately available.

Intelligent speed assistance technology uses GPS data and either digitally mapped speed limit data or vehicle-based sign recognition, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The systems vary and range from displaying the speed limit to preventing drivers from going above the speed limit.

Washington, D.C. and Virginia have passed similar legislation requiring intelligent speed assistance, also known as "speed limiters," for dangerous drivers and other states are looking to follow. The European Union in 2024 required all cars sold in the EU and Northern Ireland be fitted with speed limiters that offer drivers the option of turning them off.

Additional details on Hochul’s proposal, including what device would be used and which drivers would qualify, were not yet available, with much being left up to New York City to decide how it would implement the program, according to the governor’s office.

Similar legislation has been pushed in New York by State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn) and Assemb. Emily Gallagher (D-Brooklyn), whose proposed legislation would require installation of the speed limiters if a driver racks up 11 or more points on their driving record during a 24-month period or six speed camera or red light tickets in 12 months.

Gounardes in an emailed statement told Newsday he’s "heartened" by the governor’s proposal and looks forward to further details. "This is a matter of life and death on our streets, and it's important we get it right," he said.

The proposal was applauded by traffic safety advocacy groups including Transportation Alternatives, a New York City nonprofit.

"Super speeders kill New Yorkers every year, but one tiny device can prevent these crashes before they happen," Ben Furnas, executive director at Transportation Alternatives, said in a release.