Newsom Vetos Another Controversial Bill

On Saturday, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a controversial bill aimed at enhancing road safety by requiring new vehicles to alert drivers when they exceed the speed limit by 10 mph or more. Had it passed, California would have been the first state in the nation to implement such a mandate, with the requirement set to take effect in 2030 for all new cars, trucks, and buses.

The intent behind the bill was to combat the alarming rate of traffic fatalities, particularly in a state where speeding has contributed to a significant number of deaths. However, Newsom explained his decision by pointing to existing federal vehicle safety standards, arguing that adding state-specific rules could create confusion and inconsistency across the automotive landscape. He noted that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is already assessing intelligent speed assistance technologies at the federal level, cautioning that state-level mandates could interfere with these evaluations.

Critics of the bill, including automotive industry representatives and the California Chamber of Commerce, contended that such regulations should remain under federal jurisdiction. They expressed concerns that the proposed law could inflate vehicle prices and distract drivers, ultimately undermining safety rather than enhancing it. Republican lawmakers echoed these sentiments, arguing that California’s regulatory approach could inadvertently impact car sales nationwide, given the state’s sizable market.

Democratic State Senator Scott Wiener, who sponsored the bill, described the veto as a setback for public safety. He argued that California should take the lead in addressing traffic safety, reminiscent of its historical role in implementing seatbelt laws.

Meanwhile, the technology behind intelligent speed assistance is not new; it has been implemented in various forms in Europe, where the EU has mandated its inclusion in new vehicles starting this July. While some manufacturers have already integrated speed-limiting features in their vehicles sold in the U.S., the question remains whether such mandates should be determined at the state level.

The statistics are compelling: in 2021, 10% of all police-reported car crashes were linked to speeding, a figure that rises to 35% in California for traffic fatalities. The National Transportation Safety Board has recommended that federal regulators adopt similar alert systems for all new vehicles, especially following tragic incidents that highlighted the consequences of speeding.

In light of this veto, it is clear that the conversation surrounding traffic safety and vehicle regulation is far from over. The balancing act between state and federal authority in setting vehicle standards will continue to be a critical issue as lawmakers grapple with the best ways to protect drivers and pedestrians alike.