Washington has just taken a step forward: from now on, it will require drivers to install a device that limits the speed of cars according to the legal speed limit of the zone they are in. It’s called the BEAM Act, and it’s already a reality that will begin to be implemented starting in 2029.
In Washington, only in 2024, there were 731 deaths from traffic accidents, and 809 in 2023 (the year with the most victims since 1990). Aware that this is a real problem, they have pushed forward this law, which aims to save lives and reduce the accidents that happen practically every day.
What is the BEAM Act?
The BEAM Act was created with the aim of creating safe roads for everyone, as hundreds and hundreds of people lose their lives on the roads every year. This law was signed by Governor Bob Ferguson and has been supported by most of the families affected by speeding. Its main goal is very clear: to put an end to the tragedy of losing loved ones due to reckless driving.
What does this law involve?
The device has been described as “intelligent speed assistance” and will use GPS to prevent drivers from exceeding the speed limit allowed in the area where they are, so it will act as a speed limiter built into the car itself. So, if you’re driving in a residential area where the speed limit is 40 km/h, and you want to go past 55 or 48 km/h, the system will not let you accelerate. You can press the accelerator, but you won’t be able to speed up, and of course, trying to bypass this device will result in a fine.
What is the reason for this law?
As we said before, there have been a huge number of accidents in Washington, but one of the most well-known happened in March 2024, where three children (aged 12 and 13) and an adult lost their lives due to the reckless driving of Chase Jones (who also had previous records for this type of driving). It’s not that his actions went unpunished, he was sentenced to 17 years in prison (which seems too little to us, by the way), but it’s true that with a speed-limiting device, those four lives (and many others) could have been saved.
No space for dangerous speed
Levitt says that it was the families who pushed for this law, because they were the ones who shared their stories again and again, and despite carrying that pain forever in their lives, they don’t want anyone else to go through the same pain.
The impact on the community
The numbers of deaths from speeding in Washington, are heartbreaking. Hundreds of families have lost a loved one, and the accidents have left indelible scars. For Ted Smith, father of one of the victims from King County, the BEAM Act represents relief and the possibility that other families won’t have to endure the same suffering.
The effort of the BEAM Act will be collective, but it’s a way to ensure that every person who gets behind the wheel, or simply walks down the street, can return home safe and sound.
The implementation of the BEAM Act will not only aim to reduce deaths but also to give a voice to the families fighting for everyone’s safety. Getting home safely shouldn’t be an option, it should be the norm.