Speed Warning Technology Set for Mandatory Installation in New Vehicles in California Starting 2030
In a significant stride towards enhancing road safety, California has passed Senate Bill 961, making it the first state in the U.S. to mandate the use of Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology in all new vehicles from the 2030 model year onwards.
The ISA technology, which has been a requirement in all vehicles sold in the EU since July this year, aims to help drivers comply with speed limits by warning or intervening when the vehicle exceeds posted speed limits.
Key aspects of the ISA requirement in SB 961 include:
- Applicability: The mandate applies to all new vehicles sold in California starting with the 2030 model year.
- Function: ISA systems must detect the vehicle’s speed relative to legal speed limits and warn the driver or limit vehicle speed if the driver exceeds these limits.
- Technology Advancement: The mandate aims to stimulate technological breakthroughs to overcome current barriers in implementing ISA systems, including accurate speed limit recognition and driver interface design.
- Safety Purpose: The goal is to reduce speeding-related crashes by leveraging vehicle technology to assist drivers in maintaining safe speeds.
The bill, which passed the Assembly with a vote of 42-12 and the Senate with a vote of 26-9, builds on similar requirements that went into effect in the European Union. It is sponsored by CalBike, Streets For All, Walk SF, Streets are for Everyone, and KidSafe SF, and is also supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of City Transportation Officials, the National Safety Council, and the American Automobile Association (AAA).
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety's 2023 Traffic Safety Report, 1/3rd of all traffic fatalities in the state between 2017 and 2021 were speeding-related. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a 23% increase in speeding-related crashes in California from 2019-2022.
A person hit by a car traveling at 35 miles per hour is five times more likely to die than a person hit by a car traveling at 20 miles per hour. The implementation of SB 961 is expected to significantly reduce these statistics.
The bill does not apply to emergency vehicles, motorcycles, or passenger vehicles that are not equipped with either a GPS or front-facing camera. It's worth noting that the exact regulatory text outlining detailed operational parameters or enforcement mechanisms is not fully available at this time.
As the bill heads to the Governor for approval, California is set to lead the way in road safety, leveraging technology to help drivers maintain safe speeds and reduce the number of speeding-related crashes.
[1] Legislation compels innovation in ISA to effectively address barriers to widespread adoption and improve road safety (August 2025)
The passage of Senate Bill 961 in California indicates a push towards advanced road safety, as it mandates the use of Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology in all new vehicles from 2030 onwards, following the EU's lead. This legislation aims to stimulate innovation in the industry and finance sectors, tackling barriers in ISA system implementation, particularly in speed limit recognition and driver interface design, to enhance safety in transportation.
