New Illinois Law Would Make Your Car Enforce the Speed Limit

If you are a driver who considers posted speed limits more of a suggestion than a law, a new bill has been proposed in Illinois that may force you to ease your foot off the gas pedal.

Speeding in Illinois

I like to consider myself a good, responsible driver, primarily because I'm scared of getting pulled over by the cops. Have I been pulled over before and lived to tell the tale? Of course, but I turn into a nervous wreck when it happens and it's a very embarrassing situation for me.

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Obviously, no driver ever wants to get pulled over, but too many drivers are throwing caution to the wind and jamming the gas pedal instead. This is why a new bill has been proposed in Illinois that aims to make the roads safer for all drivers.

Illinois' Intelligent Speed Assistance Program

House Bill 4948, introduced in Springfield, aims to create the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program.  While this program may sound helpful and futuristic, in reality it's all about setting cars up to snitch on habitually speeding drivers.

Under this proposal, reckless drivers, especially ones getting caught going over 100 mph, could be required by a judge to install a speed-limiting device in their vehicle. Once installed, this device would automatically cap your speed based on the posted limit wherever you’re driving.

Drawbacks of the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program

If having your car snitch on you isn't bad enough, drivers in the program would be required to have the device installed on every vehicle they own and drive, and failing to do so could end with your driver's license getting revoked.

If the bill becomes law, the program would kick in January 1, 2027, but it still has to survive committee hearings and votes in both chambers before it gets to that point.

You might want to start training your foot to ease off the gas pedal now though, just in case.