Traffic in Washington state has been facing a problem for years that worries both authorities and citizens. Excessive speed is behind a large number of accidents with fatal consequences. The shared feeling is that any family could be affected at any moment.
With that social pressure, Governor Bob Ferguson has taken a decisive step. After a process of citizen signatures, he has launched the BEAM Law. This is a measure that seeks to restore safety on the roads and put an end to the repeat offenses of those who turn driving into a constant risk.
BEAM law
The BEAM law is based on a clear idea: those who have accumulated records for reckless driving won't be able to make the same mistakes again. The regulation establishes that vehicles of those drivers must carry a device with GPS and intelligent speed assistance.
The operation is simple and forceful: the system recognizes the road the car is traveling on and sets the permitted speed limit. Even if the driver presses the accelerator hard, the engine won't be able to exceed that number. There is no margin to surpass the speed set by the road.
This automatic control has received very broad social support; for the population, it is a fair and necessary measure that could prevent tragedies. Mari Leavitt, the main investor in the devices, emphasized the importance of citizen involvement: "It's the families who have brought us here. It's them who were willing to share their story again and again."
How does it work and why was it urgent?
The GPS system is combined with intelligent speed assistance. This technological duo blocks any attempt to exceed the limits. As an example, Leavitt explained that if in a residential area the maximum speed is 25 mph (40 km/h), the car won't go beyond that even if the pedal is pressed all the way down.
Trying to tamper with the device won't be a viable option. The penalties in that case will be harsher, since the law includes severe measures against any attempt to evade control. This way, the aim is to reinforce road safety and curb the number of accidents caused by recklessness.
The trigger for this law was a case that shocked the entire country. In 2024, in King County, Chase Jones caused the death of four minors by driving recklessly. Boyd Buster Brown, Eloise Wilcoxson, Andrea Smith Hudson, and Matilda Wilcoxson lost their lives because of speed.
Although the person responsible was sentenced to 17 years in prison, the families of the victims continued to demand structural changes. According to them, if this technology had existed, four lives would have been saved. That social outcry ended up becoming the driving force behind the BEAM law, which will take effect in January 2029.