California leads with innovative speed limiting legislation for new vehicles

In a landmark move, California is setting the pace in road safety with its proposed legislation, SB 961.

Spearheaded by Senator Scott Wiener, this pioneering bill mandates the installation of intelligent speed limiters in new vehicles.

Aimed at reducing highway fatalities, this initiative will potentially reshape the landscape of vehicle speed regulation.

In a decisive response to the alarming increase in road fatalities, Senator Wiener’s words resonate with urgency. “The alarming surge in road deaths is unbearable and demands an urgent response,” he asserts. Highlighting the extent of the issue, he notes that in 2020 alone, the California Highway Patrol issued over 3,000 citations for driving at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.

This legislation, therefore, emerges as a practical solution to curb such reckless speeding and prevent tragic accidents.

Furthermore, this move aligns with anticipated national trends.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is also expected to introduce a similar mandate for commercial vehicles.

Although the Final Rule was slated for release in December 2023, there has been a delay in its publication, indicating a growing focus on speed regulation at both state and federal levels.