Senator Wiener Responds to Veto of First-In-Nation Speed Warning Bill

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) Senate Bill 961. The bill would have reduced traffic deaths by requiring speed warning technology — called passive intelligent speed assistance (ISA) — in all new cars manufactured, sold, or leased in California beginning with 2030 model year vehicles. This first-in-the-nation requirement was supported by the American Automobile Association (AAA), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Safety Council, the National Association of City Transportation Officials, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which strongly supported the implementation of Passive ISA through bills like SB 961. In response, Senator Wiener issued the following statement:

“Today’s veto is a setback for street safety at a time Californians are feeling extremely unsafe,” said Senator Wiener. “The evidence is clear: Rising levels of dangerous speeding are placing all Californians in danger, and by taking prudent steps to improve safety, we can save lives. California should have led on this crisis as Wisconsin did in passing the first seatbelt mandate in 1961. Instead, this veto resigns Californians to a completely unnecessary risk of fatality. I’m extremely grateful to the amazing coalition that came together to support this bill and look forward to continuing our work together to make our roads safe for all users.”

SB 961 built on similar requirements that went into effect in the European Union beginning in July, and it implements the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) recommendation to require intelligent speed assistance in all new passenger vehicles. 

The chance of a fatal crash drastically increases when a driver is speeding. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety’s (OTS) 2023 Traffic Safety Report, 1/3rd of all traffic fatalities in the state between 2017 and 2021 were speeding-related. The National Association of City  Transportation Officials (NACTO) notes that “a person hit by a car traveling at 35 miles per hour is five times more likely to die than a person hit by a car traveling at 20 miles per hour.”

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, drivers have engaged in increasingly reckless behavior, putting themselves and others at risk. TRIP found a 23% increase in speeding-related crashes in California from 2019-2022.

Senate Bill 961 was sponsored by CalBike, Streets For All, Walk SF, Streets are for Everyone, and KidSafe SF. SB 961 is also supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of City Transportation Officials, the National Safety Council, American Automobile Association (AAA), and a strong coalition of traffic safety groups who advocate for victims of traffic violence.

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