San Francisco lawmaker walks back bill that would ban cars from driving more than 10 mph over speed limit

California lawmakers have watered down a bill that would have banned cars from driving more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. 

Instead, drivers will see a passive warning system in new cars starting in 2029. 

The backstory: Sen. Scott Wiener (D–San Francisco) introduced Senate Bill 961, which would have forced all new vehicles sold in 2027 or later to be equipped with speed limiter technology that would cap a vehicle’s speed at 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. 

• Wiener said when he introduced the bill that it was in response to a 22 percent increase in road deaths in California over the past few years. 

The big picture: Earlier this week Wiener amended the bill to just require audio and visual signals to alert drivers when they exceed 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. 

• Half of new vehicles sold starting in 2029 will be required to have the built-in alerts if SB 961 becomes law, while all new vehicles will have the mandate by 2032. 
• The Senate Transportation Committee passed the bill by an 8-4 vote along party lines, with Democrats approving it. 

What we’re watching: SB 961 will head to the Senate Appropriations Committee before going to the Senate floor for a full vote. 

What they’re saying: “We heard feedback from colleagues that people were not comfortable with an active physical barrier to going above a certain speed,” Wiener said during Tuesday’s committee hearing. “People might need to go at a higher speed. We listened, we heard, worked with the committee and changed it.”