California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have mandated new cars to beep at drivers if they exceeded the speed limit by at least 10 mph. The proposed legislation aimed at reducing traffic deaths in the state by alerting drivers to slow down. If passed, California would have been the first state to require such systems in all new cars, trucks, and buses sold starting in 2030.
The European Union has already passed similar legislation to encourage safe driving practices. However, Governor Newsom cited concerns about creating a patchwork of regulations by imposing state-specific requirements on vehicle safety standards. He emphasized that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is actively evaluating intelligent speed assistance systems, and state-level mandates could disrupt federal assessments.
Opponents of the bill, including automotive groups and the state Chamber of Commerce, argued that federal government should decide on such regulations. They raised concerns about potential cost increases for vehicles and driver distractions. The legislation would have likely impacted all new car sales in the U.S. due to California's significant market influence.
The proposed speeding alert technology, known as intelligent speed assistance, uses GPS to compare a vehicle's speed with posted limits and emits a brief visual and audio alert if the limit is exceeded. While the technology has been used in the U.S. and Europe for years, California's bill would have required the state to maintain a list of posted speed limits, potentially leading to conflicts with local regulations.
According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, speeding-related crashes accounted for 10% of all reported car accidents in 2021. In California, 35% of traffic fatalities were linked to speeding, making it the second-highest in the country. The NTSB recommended that all new cars alert drivers when they exceed speed limits following a tragic crash in January 2022, underscoring the importance of addressing speeding-related incidents.
Despite the bill's sponsor, Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener, expressing disappointment over the veto and calling it a setback for street safety, Governor Newsom's decision highlights the complexities of implementing state-specific regulations in the realm of vehicle safety standards.
