Virginia Senate Passes Bill to Raise Reckless Driving Threshold

The Virginia Senate recently passed a bill to raise the reckless driving threshold from over 80 to over 85 mph in a 70 mph zone, reports WSET.

The measure, if passed by the House of Delegates and signed by the Governor, would also amend the law to make a person guilty of reckless driving if they are going 20 mph over the maximum speed limit.

In Virginia, a reckless driving ticket is a misdemeanor and comes with a mandatory minimum fine of $250 if convicted, reports WHSV.

There has been a mixed reaction to the idea of increasing the threshold for reckless driving, according to reports.

High speed driving has been linked to increased collisions and their severity because drivers have less time to react.

Nationwide, nearly 800 people are killed in speed-related crashes every month. In 2018, more than 9,000 fatalities — 26% of all U.S. crash deaths — were speed-related.