California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill on Saturday that would have required new cars sold in the state to alert drivers if they exceeded the speed limit by at least 10 mph (16 kph). The bill, which aimed to reduce traffic fatalities, would have made California the first state in the U.S. to mandate such technology in all new vehicles, including cars, trucks, and buses, starting in 2030.
The legislation, introduced by Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener, proposed installing intelligent speed assistance (ISA) systems in vehicles, which would use GPS to track a vehicle’s speed relative to posted speed limits. If the driver exceeded the speed limit by 10 mph or more, the system would issue an audio and visual alert to encourage them to slow down. Emergency vehicles, motorcycles, and motorized scooters were exempt from the proposed mandate.
Newsom Cites Federal Oversight, Industry Concerns in Veto of Speed Limit Alert Bill
While the European Union has already passed similar legislation, requiring all new cars to have ISA systems starting in July 2024, Newsom cited concerns over conflicting regulations and ongoing federal assessments in his explanation for the veto.
“Federal law already dictates vehicle safety standards,” Newsom wrote in his veto message, adding that “imposing state-level mandates at this time risks disrupting these ongoing federal assessments.” He pointed out that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently evaluating intelligent speed assistance systems, and that California-specific requirements could lead to a “patchwork” of state regulations.
Opponents of the bill, including automotive industry groups and the California Chamber of Commerce, argued that such regulations should be implemented at the federal level. They expressed concerns that the proposed rule could increase the cost of cars and potentially distract drivers with too many alerts. Earlier this year, the federal government imposed new requirements for automatic emergency braking systems in vehicles as part of broader efforts to curb traffic fatalities, and some critics argued that additional regulations should be delayed until those are fully implemented.
Republican lawmakers in California also voiced concerns about the potential cost impact on consumers, warning that the proposed technology could make cars more expensive. Given the size of the California market, changes to state regulations often influence national standards, as automakers typically adopt California’s rules to avoid making different models for different markets.
Sen. Wiener Criticizes Veto, Calls it a Missed Opportunity for Street Safety Leadership
Despite these concerns, Sen. Wiener expressed disappointment with the veto, calling it a missed opportunity for California to lead on street safety. He likened the situation to Wisconsin’s landmark decision to pass the first seatbelt mandate in 1961, which was followed by widespread adoption in other states. “This veto resigns Californians to a completely unnecessary risk of fatality,” Wiener said in a statement.
The vetoed bill comes as speeding-related fatalities remain a significant issue in California. According to a legislative analysis of the proposal, speeding accounted for 35% of traffic fatalities in the state, the second-highest percentage in the country. Nationwide, the NHTSA estimates that 10% of all crashes reported to police in 2021 were related to speeding.
Intelligent speed assistance systems are not a new concept. Several automakers, including Ford, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Nissan, already offer versions of the technology in some models sold in the U.S. In Europe, the technology has been available for years, and the European Union’s forthcoming mandate requires that new cars be equipped with ISA systems, although drivers will have the option to turn the system off.
The debate over the future of vehicle safety regulations continues as federal and state governments seek ways to reduce traffic-related fatalities. Newsom’s veto highlights the tension between state and federal authority over vehicle safety and the potential for new technologies to reshape driving behavior in the coming years.
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