California mulls legislation to utilize technology for regulating vehicle speeds

A legislative proposal in California, inspired by a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation, could lead to new vehicles being equipped with “intelligent” speed restrictive technology. If passed, the bill would require cars and trucks of the 2027 model year or later to have speed governors that cap speeds at 10 mph over posted limits.

This technology uses GPS data or car cameras to enforce speed limits based on the vehicle’s location. For example, vehicles would not be able to exceed 80 mph on highways with a 70 mph speed limit. In residential areas, speeds would be restricted to 35 mph on streets with a 25 mph limit.

While some auto manufacturers, such as Hyundai, already offer speed limiter features, many motorists could use them as a form of cruise control. The bill exempts emergency vehicles and grants the California Highway Patrol the discretion to disable speed governors on their vehicles.

A key driver behind the bill is the fact that speed is a factor in about a third of traffic deaths nationwide, according to the National Safety Council. The National Highway Safety Administration estimated more than 40,000 traffic fatalities in 2022.

Last November, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended the federal government require speed limiters in cars to warn drivers when they exceed speed limits. The bill aims to address this issue by incorporating the latest technology to improve road safety.