LOS ANGELES — To curb speeding, a new bill introduced in the California State Senate by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) seeks to mandate the installation of speed governors in all new vehicles sold within the state, effectively limiting their maximum speeds.

What You Need To Know

  • Senate Bill 961 proposes installing speed-limiting devices in all new cars in California

  • The devices would use GPS and cameras to automatically slow cars down if they exceed the speed limit by 10 mph or more

  • The bill aims to reduce high rates of pedestrian deaths and enhance overall road safety in the state

  • The issue hits close to home for Damian Kevitt, executive director of Streets Are For Everyone

Local proponents, driven by the rising numbers of traffic-related injuries and fatalities, see the bill as a way to combat the fact that Los Angeles had more traffic-related deaths than homicides in 2023. 

The issue hits home for Damian Kevitt, executive director of Streets Are For Everyone. 

A victim of traffic violence himself, Kevitt suffered severe injuries a decade ago when a speeding car struck and dragged him.

"I've almost lost my life because of traffic violence," Kevitt said. "My right leg was ripped off in about 20 pounds of flesh in two minutes. I know what it's like."

His organization recently orchestrated a die-in protest at city hall, symbolizing the urgent need for action. 

During the protest, participants lay motionless for 337 seconds, representing each person who lost their life to traffic violence last year in Los Angeles.

"If we don't collectively say enough is enough, we don't need to have roads that are so dangerous that people die crossing the road all the time, that kids can't get to school without being hit and seriously injured or killed, then it will just get worse," Kevitt said. 

He is supporting the installation of these speed-limiting devices in California. Kevitt said, "There's no reason why we should have the ability to drive 100 miles per hour down a residential road. There's just no reason."

Michael Schneider, founder and CEO of Streets For All, a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 961, explained the technology would employ GPS and cameras to automatically reduce vehicle speed when exceeding the limit by 10 miles per hour or more. "We just had a two-decade high of pedestrian deaths in the city of Los Angeles. Something has to change, and speed is the biggest factor if someone lives or dies in a crash. So I think you'd see dramatically safer streets," Schneider said.

However, not everyone supports this approach. 

Todd Spencer, president of the owner-operator Independent Drivers Association, cautioned against potential drawbacks. 

"Were it implemented, I think it would basically be a detriment to new vehicle sales in the states because people just simply wouldn't want that," Spencer said.

Kevitt acknowledges the challenge in passing the bill but remains optimistic, citing the success of similar technology in government and fleet vehicles: "It has been shown categorically to reduce serious injuries."