In a landmark move, the California Senate has passed Senate Bill 961, introduced by Senator Scott Wiener, which mandates the installation of "passive speed limiters" in all new vehicles sold or manufactured in the state by 2032. If enacted, California would become the first state in the United States to implement such a requirement, following in the footsteps of a similar law set to take effect in the European Union this July.

The objective of the bill is to address the rising number of fatalities on California's roads, which have seen an alarming increase, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2023 Traffic Safety Report from the California Office of Traffic Safety revealed a distressing surge in deaths related to alcohol and drug-impaired driving, motorcyclist fatalities, and teenage driver fatalities from 2020 to 2021.

According to Senator Wiener, these preventable deaths are the result of dangerous road conditions and a tolerance for speeding. He believes that by taking appropriate measures to enhance safety, lives can be saved. "The evidence is clear: Rising levels of dangerous speeding are placing all Californians in danger, and by taking prudent steps to improve safety, we can save lives," Senator Wiener commented in a statement.

The proposed legislation, SB 961, requires all passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses sold or manufactured in California to be equipped with "passive speed governors" by the year 2032, with a phased implementation of 50% by 2029. These "passive speed governors" or "passive Intelligent Speed Assistance" systems would warn drivers with audible and visual signals when they exceed the speed limit by more than ten miles per hour.

It is important to note that emergency vehicles are exempt from the bill's speed governor requirement, ensuring that they can continue to respond quickly to emergencies.

The bill passed the California Senate with a vote of 22-13 on Tuesday and will now move to the State Assembly. It must be approved by the Assembly by August 31 to become law.

If SB 961 becomes law, it will be a significant step forward in road safety for California, potentially setting a precedent for other states to follow suit. However, the bill still faces further legislative scrutiny before it can come into effect.