San Francisco lawmaker wants to ban cars from driving more than 10 mph over speed limit

If State Sen. Scott Wiener (D–San Francisco) gets his way, Californians won’t be able to drive more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit anymore. 

Wiener introduced Senate Bill 961 into the Legislature to enact speed limiter technology in new cars. 

The big picture: Under SB 961, all new vehicles sold in 2027 or later to have speed limiter technology built in that would cap a vehicle’s speed at 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. 

• Emergency vehicles would be exempt from the rule with approval by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol. 
• Drivers would be able to temporarily override the speed limiter, the bill’s language says. 

What they’re saying: Wiener posted on X that the bill is in response to a 22 percent increase in road deaths in California over the past few years. 

• “This speed limiting technology already exists,” Wiener said. “The European Union is moving in this direction & the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended adopting the requirement nationally.”