Consider this scenario: you’re cruising down the highway, lost in thought about a stressful day at work or what you plan to have for dinner, and suddenly your car emits a loud beep.
But this time, it’s not a fuel warning, nor is your seatbelt unfastened; it’s because you’re speeding. This could soon become a reality for all drivers in California.
The California State Legislature is considering a bill that would mandate that all new vehicles come equipped with Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) systems. These systems would provide both visual and audio alerts to notify drivers when they exceed the posted speed limit by 10 miles per hour or more.
The implementation of this requirement would be phased in. According to the bill, half of all new passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses sold in California in the 2029 model year would be required to have these ISA systems. By the 2032 model year, 100% of new vehicles sold would have to be equipped with the technology. Emergency vehicles would be exempt from these requirements.
The legislation is intended to address the rising number of roadway deaths in the United States. In California in 2022, over 4,400 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes, which translates to approximately 12 deaths every day, according to data from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Speeding is a significant factor in traffic fatalities across the country, playing a role in one-third of all such incidents, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB, which investigates transportation accidents but lacks regulatory power, has strongly urged the federal government to mandate these systems nationwide and supports California’s efforts to become the first state to implement such a requirement.
