California could require car 'governors' that limit speeding to 10 mph over posted limits [View all]

San Francisco Chronicle / January 24, 2024

California would become the first state to require new vehicles be equipped with speed governors — technology that limits how fast they can be driven — under legislation by San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener.

The bill, introduced Wednesday, would require cars and trucks of the 2027 model year or later that are built or sold in California to include speed governors that would prohibit motorists from driving more than 10 mph over posted speed limits.

The legislation aims to address the epidemic of traffic deaths in the Bay Area and California, Wiener said. Traffic fatalities rose during the pandemic in San Francisco and nationwide, and speed factors in about a third of traffic deaths across the country, according to the National Safety Council. The National Highway Safety Administration estimated more than 40,000 traffic fatalities in 2022.

SNIP

Cars subject to the speed-governor requirement wouldn’t be able to drive faster than 80 mph on state highways with a post 70 mph speed limit, for example. The bill would also apply to city driving as motorists wouldn’t be able to drive faster than 35 mph in quiet residential streets with 25 mph speed limits.

LINK (paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/car-speed-governors-bill-18624126.php

This bill won't pass the legislature. Newsom wouldn't sign it either. There are other ways to limit speed.

I can't imagine a better anti-California talking point for MAGATs than this over-regulating legislation from Scott Wiener. He handed it to them on a silver platter.