California may soon require all new cars to alert drivers when they exceed the speed limit, following a proposal aimed at reducing traffic deaths. This measure, if enacted, could have nationwide implications.
The federal government sets vehicle safety standards, which is why cars now beep if seat belts aren’t fastened. A new bill in the California Legislature, which passed its first vote in the state Senate on Tuesday, aims to go further. The proposed law would require all new cars sold in the state by 2032 to alert drivers when they exceed the speed limit by at least 10 mph.
State Senator Scott Wiener, a Democrat from San Francisco and the bill’s author, stated, “Research has shown that this does have an impact in getting people to slow down, particularly since some people don’t realize how fast that their car is going.”
The bill narrowly passed, indicating potential challenges ahead. Republican state Senator Brian Dahle opposed the bill, arguing that sometimes drivers need to exceed the speed limit in emergencies. “It’s just a nanny state that we’re causing here,” Dahle said.
The proposed technology, known as intelligent speed assistance, uses GPS to compare a vehicle’s speed with posted speed limits. If the vehicle exceeds the limit by at least 10 mph, it would emit a “brief, one-time visual and audio signal to alert the driver.” The system relies on manufacturers to maintain a list of speed limits, which might not include local roads or recent changes, potentially causing conflicts. The bill specifies that in case of conflicting speed limit information, the system should use the higher limit.
California’s proposed legislation reflects a growing trend of increasingly stringent regulations and control measures. Many argue that this is another step towards full government oversight, raising concerns about privacy and individual freedoms. As California continues to implement more draconian laws, the debate over the balance between safety and personal liberty intensifies.