The California legislature has recently given the green light to Senate Bill 961, a new driver safety law.
This legislation mandates that all passenger vehicles of the 2030 model year and beyond must employ a brief, one-time, visual and audio signal to alert the driver whenever the vehicle's speed exceeds the limit by more than 10 miles per hour. The bill sailed through the Assembly with a 4212 vote and the Senate with a 269 vote. Now, the only hurdle remaining for S.B. 961 to become law is the signature of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Once enacted, this law will not merely impose civil penalties for violations, but will also classify them as criminal offenses.
According to Reason.com, California state Sen. Scott Wiener (DSan Francisco), the initiator of the legislation, was taken aback by the vehement opposition it received. Wiener recounted a text from one of his closest friends criticizing the bill as a "terrible idea" on the day of its announcement, which he took as a sign of public disapproval. However, the strong reaction is not entirely unexpected considering the original text of the bill.
Initially, S.B. 961 proposed more than just a simple warning beep. It advocated for automatic throttling of speeding vehicles, requiring the vehicle's GPS location to be compared with a database of posted speed limits. The bill aimed to electronically limit the speed of the vehicle, preventing the driver from exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour. This would have rendered every passenger vehicle, truck, and bus manufactured or sold in California from the 2027 model year onwards incapable of driving more than 10 miles per hour above the limit.
However, Wiener eventually conceded and amended the bill in April. Given that modern seatbelt alarms necessitate "repetitive, successive, or ongoing warnings each time a vehicle exceeds the speed threshold," Californian drivers can breathe a sigh of relief that such alarms are not mandated in the current bill. Yet, they may also view the bill as redundant.
Popular phone-based navigation apps such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze already include visual and auditory signals for drivers exceeding the speed limit. However, these signals are optional, and not everyone relies heavily on these apps.
Wiener, citing the surge in reckless driving since the pandemic, asserts that "dangerous speeding [is] placing all Californians in danger, and by taking prudent steps to improve safety, we can save lives." While the senator's concern for public safety is commendable, there already exists a sensible, private, and voluntary alternative: auto insurance programs that track driving habits via apps and reward safe drivers with discounted rates. Programs like Allstate's Drivewise, USAA's SafePilot, GEICO's DriveEasy, and State Farm's Drive Safe & Save had 16.8 million North American drivers enrolled in 2022, as per market researcher Berg Insight.
Regrettably, Californian drivers cannot avail of these programs due to California Proposition 103, enacted in 1988, which necessitates the Insurance Commissioner's approval for any rate applied by an insurer. This 40-year-old prior-approval system prohibits auto insurers from adjusting rates based on driver behavior.
Rather than imposing punitive measures, Californian legislators should consider incentivizing safe driving. This approach aligns with traditional conservative values, emphasizing individual freedom and the power of the free market to encourage responsible behavior.
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