California's governor rejects a bill that would require speed assist in vehicles

California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill Bill that would have required an Intelligent Speed ​​Assist (ISA). in all vehicles in the country from 2030.

If signed, SB961 California would have been the first state to require ISAs for vehicles. It has been a mandatory technology for vehicles in Europe since July.

“While I appreciate the intent to improve road safety, this bill contains several challenges”, Newsom said in a veto message. “Federal law, as implemented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), already governs vehicle safety standards, and adding California-specific requirements would result in a patchwork of regulations that undermines this longstanding federal framework. NHTSA is also actively evaluating intelligent speed assist systems, and imposing federal regulations now risks disrupting these ongoing federal evaluations.”

The bill required all passenger cars, trucks and buses manufactured, newly sold or leased in the state to be equipped with “passive” ISA, the bill text states.

ISA is defined in the bill as an integrated vehicle system that determines the speed limit on the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling. The bill adds that a short, one-time visual and audible signal will be used to warn drivers each time they exceed the speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) said in a press release that it applauds the governor for his decision.

“Governor. Newsom’s veto of SB 961 demonstrates his commitment to ensuring that California’s vehicle safety policies are consistent with federal laws, regulations and guidelines,” SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola said in the release. “A patchwork of conflicting government regulations would have harmed consumers and the automotive industry, potentially stifling innovation and limiting choice.”

Spagnola said SEMA supports data-driven approaches to improving traffic safety.

“NHTSA is already actively evaluating speed assist technology, and it is critical that the federal agency be allowed to continue its work on this issue,” Spagnola said.

The California Chamber of Commerce also opposed the bill, saying regulation should be left to the federal government. according to AP.

“The legislation likely would have impacted all new car sales in the U.S. because the California market is so large that automakers would likely make all of their vehicles compliant,” the AP article said. “California often uses this leverage to influence national and even international policy. The state has set its own emissions standards for cars for decades, rules that more than a dozen other states have also adopted. And when California announced it would eventually ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars, major automakers soon followed suit with their own announcement to phase out fossil fuel vehicles.”

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Photo courtesy of AttaBoyLuther/iStock

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