California Lawmakers Update Bill to Address Car Speeds

California lawmakers have revised a bill aimed at addressing car speeds, moving away from mandating physical speed limiters on vehicles. Instead, the proposed legislation, SB 961, now requires half of new cars to be equipped with speed-limit warning systems by 2029. The amendments, approved Tuesday night, reflect a compromise following concerns raised during the bill’s introduction.

Initially introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener in January, SB 961 sought to install “speed limiters” on new passenger vehicles, restricting them from exceeding speeds 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, starting in 2027. However, in response to feedback and concerns, Wiener amended the bill to require passive warning systems, providing visual and audio signals to alert drivers when they surpass the speed threshold.

The revised bill mandates that half of new vehicles incorporate these warning systems by 2029, with all new vehicles required to have them by 2032. Sen. Wiener explained the changes as a response to concerns about active physical barriers impeding drivers, acknowledging that there are situations where higher speeds may be necessary.

Despite passing the Senate Transportation Committee with an 8-4 vote along party lines, the bill faced immediate criticism upon its introduction, with opponents labeling it as emblematic of California’s “nanny state” approach. Governor Gavin Newsom expressed sensitivity to such issues, particularly in an election year, and signaled a desire to discuss the bill further.

SB 961 has garnered support from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which has advocated for speed-limiting systems since 2012. Following a tragic crash in Las Vegas in 2022, which claimed nine lives, the NTSB recommended that federal regulators, specifically the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), mandate the technology.

The urgency for such measures is underscored by the alarming rise in traffic fatalities nationwide, including in major California cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. In 2022 alone, vehicle collisions claimed over 1,000 pedestrian lives in California, highlighting the need for proactive safety measures.

While speed limit warning systems are already required in the European Union, their implementation in the United States has been met with varying degrees of adoption. New York City, for instance, is expanding its use of active speed limiters across its municipal fleet following a successful pilot program.

In response to concerns raised by lawmakers, Wiener amended SB 961 to clarify that drivers would receive a single warning each time they exceed the speed threshold, addressing worries about persistent alerts potentially distracting drivers or discouraging purchases. Despite some skepticism, particularly regarding potential workarounds, the bill now progresses to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration.