The speeding alert system will use GPS data to compare with the vehicle’s speed and notify the driver if they exceed the limit
California Governor Gavin Newsom is set to review a new bill, SB 961, which would require automakers to include speeding alerts in new vehicles starting in 2030. This rule applies only to new cars built and sold in California, so older vehicles won’t need the technology.
The system works by comparing GPS data, which includes local speed limits, with the car’s speed. If the driver exceeds the limit by more than 10 mph, the car will issue both audible and visual alerts at least once. While we’ve previously discussed how the technology would function and be implemented, the key update is that the bill does not require the car to physically prevent the driver from speeding.
“In a state where over 1,000 people are killed by speeding drivers every year, this technology will definitely help reduce traffic violence, much like seat belts have saved the lives of drivers and passengers,” said Damian Kevitt, executive director of Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE), in an interview with the LA Times. SAFE, a non-profit, is a co-sponsor of the bill.
However, not everyone supports the legislation. “The state’s traffic safety crisis won’t be solved by government control,” Republican Senator Roger Niello told CBS. “We should focus on increasing police presence and enforcing laws against reckless drivers.” He’s not alone in this view.
“I already have enough things in my car making noise when I’m driving with my kids. The last thing I need is more beeping,” said Assemblymember Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin). Governor Newsom has until September 30 to sign the bill. A study from the UK, where similar technology is already in use, showed that it reduced average speeds by 1.4 mph. Do you think that’s a significant improvement?
