The California Senate has thrown its support behind SB 961, a bill mandating the inclusion of "passive speed limiters" in all new cars by the year 2032. According to KTLA, these devices would serve as a not-so-gentle reminder for motorists to ease off the pedal, using audio and visual signals to alert when the vehicle clocks speeds over ten miles above the legal limit.
The bill's conception comes from Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) in response to a "horrifying spike" in roadway fatalities involving drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Wiener said that these deaths are largely preventable and stem from poor policy decisions that allow dangerous conditions on roads to persist. With Senator Wiener's push, California would blaze a trail already cut by the European Union, set to institute a similar requirement this July. A report by the California Office of Traffic Safety highlighted increases in fatal crashes due to impaired driving and losses among motorcyclist and teen drivers from 2020 to 2021.
Opposition to the bill is not light, particularly from individuals like Republican state Sen. Brian Dahle, who opposed it, expressing concern over instances when exceeding the speed limit may be necessary, such as in emergencies. "It's just a nanny state that we're causing here," Dahle told ABC7. Despite such objections, the bill's proponents argue its necessity, pointing to research showing its potential impact on reducing speeds to save lives.
The legislation could have a domino effect beyond California, influencing American car manufacturing at large given the state's hefty slice of the national auto market. California has a history of setting precedent with automotive regulations, from emission standards to announcing impending bans on gas-powered vehicle sales. According to KTLA, the bill does include exemptions for emergency vehicles from the said requirements.
While the bill still has to clear the California State Assembly by August 31, its initial approval underscores a growing movement to leverage technology in the name of public safety. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration revealed that 10% of all reported car crashes in 2021 were related to speeding, and California saw 35% of traffic fatalities attributed to excessive speed. The "passive speed governors" would rely on GPS technology to enforce speed compliance, despite potential limitations like updated speed limits not being captured in time or not including local roads.
