--- title: "California Bill Would Electronically Cap Vehicle Speed to 10 MPH Over Limit" description: "California senator Scott Wiener's bill would mandate \"intelligent speed limiters\" in new cars, restricting them to 10 mph over the posted limit." date: "2024-01-25" modified: "2024-01-25" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/california-senator-introduces-bill-to-cap-vehicle-speeds-at-10-mph-over-limit" categories: - "News" --- # California Bill Would Electronically Cap Vehicle Speed to 10 MPH Over Limit ![]() *\Getty Images\* Everyone wants safer roads. However, California senator Scott Wiener wants "SAFER" roads, as that's the name of the bill he proposed, which would electronically cap a new vehicle's top speed to 10 mph over the [speed limit](), among other things. Part of the Speeding and Fatality Emergency Reduction on California Streets (SAFER California Streets) bill published Tuesday would require all vehicles built starting in 2027 to have speed governors. As proposed, they'd work using a vehicle's GPS compared with a database of posted speed limits, though speed limit sign recognition would seem to present another method. The [text of SB-961]() mentions that the electronic regulator "shall only be capable of being temporarily disabled by the driver of the vehicle," but doesn't explain in what circumstances a driver should or will be allowed to do that. Other road changes in the bill include side underride guards on trucks, to reduce the risk of cars and bikes being pulled underneath in a crash; improved crosswalks; and curb extensions. These new rules are designed to counter a rise in reckless driving since the pandemic. According to TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, traffic casualties in California rose 22% from 2019 to 2022, and 4,400 Californians died in traffic accidents in 2022. "The alarming surge in road deaths is unbearable and demands an urgent response," said Senator Wiener in a [news release](). "There is no reason for anyone to be going over 100 miles per hour on a public road, yet in 2020, California Highway Patrol issued over 3,000 tickets for just that offense. Preventing reckless speeding is a commonsense approach to prevent these utterly needless and heartbreaking crashes." ![]() *State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) Kimberly White/Getty Images* There will be obvious questions about government overreach with such a bill, as it allows Johnny Law to reach his hand into your car and hold your pedal back. However, Wiener disagrees with that view. "I don't think it's at all an overreach, and I don't think most people would view it as an overreach, we have speed limits, I think most people support speed limits because people know that speed kills," he told *[ABC 7.]()* Wiener added that no one needs to go more than 10 mph over the speed limit unless they're in emergency vehicles, which are exempt from the bill. Naturally, there's going to be pushback on such a proposal, from both those fearful of government meddling and car enthusiasts alike. I'm also interested to hear what automakers think about the plan. You'd figure Porsche might have a harder time selling [911 Turbos]() electronically restricted to 80 mph, as that [doesn't *really* get the blood pumping](). Hopefully the GPS would know to switch the finger-wagging off at a designated racetrack. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()