California proposed Senate Bill SB-961 in January of this year, and it is now a law after passing both chambers of Congress. It won’t, however, take effect until 2030.
While the National Motorists Association (NMA) has vigorously pushed to avoid the passing of this bill, safety campaigners and organizations that support cyclists have hailed it as a big win. Many people are unsure of the law’s potential influence on road safety and whether it would alter drivers’ daily experiences, despite the fact that it is easily readable.
What is the main focus of SB-961?
Reading SB-961 doesn’t take long, and you can get it right now. The bill’s main objective is to implement a particular safety feature for cars built in the future.
Any vehicle sold with a front-facing camera or GPS-based navigation system starting in 2030 has to have equipment installed that notifies drivers when they exceed the speed limit by at least ten miles per hour.
What aims does California have?
The measure requires all cars with GPS systems or front-facing cameras to notify drivers when they violate the speed limit by more than ten miles per hour (MPH) beginning in 2030.
Although more stringent measures, including lowering the vehicle’s speed automatically after this threshold is crossed, are not prohibited by law, it does stipulate that the system must allow the driver or manufacturer to disable it.
Who is in favor of and against SB-961?
Safety agencies and advocacy groups for cyclists have backed SB-961 on one side of the argument. For these groups, the measure represents a significant step toward making streets safer for all users, including walkers and bicycles.
Proponents think that warning drivers earlier could avert possible accidents in metropolitan areas where cars often exceed speed restrictions. However, there has been strong opposition from groups such as the National Motorists’ Association.
They contend that drivers may find these messages bothersome or distracting. From their point of view, having more notifications could complicate driving and divert attention from the road to silencing alarms.
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Why there is little chance that this measure will change?
The law is unlikely to drastically alter driving patterns, despite its noble objectives. A straightforward visual or aural alert may not be sufficient to stop most drivers from continuing to drive at high speeds as they are already aware when they are speeding.
As an additional 10 mph could be viewed as a “safe zone,” some experts even predict that this regulation would result in an increase in average driving speed.
Are there better options available?
Driving safety is obviously a major priority, but are there more effective methods to make roads safer? Indeed, a lot of these ideas are already in use in the commercial sphere or are standard features in contemporary cars.
Safety technology now in use is already quite efficient
The majority of cars on the road today have cutting-edge safety features like automated braking, lane departure alerts, front, rear, and even side cameras.
Because drivers like these advances for their practicality in typical driving scenarios, manufacturers have embraced them widely in response to market demand.
Human involvement is still essential
Nothing can match traffic officers’ street efficacy, no matter how far technology has come. Even though drivers may find speeding tickets and traps annoying, they are nonetheless one of the best ways to apprehend reckless drivers.
A police officer has the ability to stop and fine offenders instantly, perhaps saving lives, in contrast to a dashboard warning.
By: California’s new speed limits confirmed – this is how California plans to fine drivers
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