Final Legislative Tally: Some Great News but Newsom Ignores Speeding as an Issue
When we last checked on the state of safe streets up in Sacramento, nine different bills that SAFE had been working on (supporting or opposing) this legislative session were awaiting Governor Newsom’s signature. We now have answers on all nine, and we’re happy to announce some wins and disappointed to report some losses.
Here are updates on all nine bills; for more detailed descriptions of the proposed legislation, read SAFE’s previous coverage of the 2023-24 legislative session or click on the links in each subject header to read the bills’ full text.
SB 960:
(Supported by SAFE; Introduced by Sen. Wiener)
Incorporates “complete streets” elements like bikeways, sidewalks, crosswalks and transit into Caltrans projects.
Governor Newsom signed SB 960 into law on September 27th, 2024.
SB 961:
(Co-sponsored by SAFE; Introduced by Sen. Wiener)
SB 961 would mandate that all 2030 model year passenger vehicles, motor trucks, and buses manufactured and sold will be equipped with a passive intelligent speed system.
Governor Newsom vetoed SB 961 on September 28th, 2024.
In a statement accompanying the veto, Newsom falsely stated that “NHTSA is also actively evaluating intelligent speed assistance systems, and imposing state-level mandates at this time risks disrupting these ongoing federal assessments.” The NHTSA has been evaluating intelligent speed assistance systems for trucks for the last ten years but has yet to issue a ruling. There is no current review of ISA systems for vehicles.
In response, SAFE has released this statement from executive director Damian Kevitt:
“We are very disappointed that Gov Newsom chose to side with the auto industry over the hundreds of thousands of family members who have lost loved ones due to speeding in the last 5 years. Somehow California is willing to go out on its own on environmental regulations and set its own laws in defiance of federal regulations but when it comes to traffic fatalities, which is the leading cause of death for youth in California and the US, ages 14-29 (source CDC), he’s caved to the pressure of big auto”
“The truth is that the NHTSB, a federal agency, has already recommended intelligent speed assistance as one of the most effective ways of saving lives in the US. However, the NHTSA is still at least a decade away from issuing any form of regulation for vehicles on ISA, while Europe already requires it on all cars right now.”
SB 1509:
(Co-sponsored by SAFE; Introduced by Sen. Stern)
SB 1509 would increase accountability for speeding drivers: motorists driving at least 26 mph above the speed limit on roads with a posted speed of 55 mph or less would receive one “negligent operator violation” for their first infraction and two points for each subsequent violation in a three-year period.
Governor Newsom vetoed SB 1509 on September 22nd, 2024.
In a statement accompanying the veto, Newsom wrote that “implementing this bill would also require the DMV to modify its information technology systems” and, because of ongoing DMV IT modernization efforts, “the additional mandate would disrupt these critical projects.” Newsom also claimed that non-commercial drivers “can attend Traffic Violator School to avoid point accumulation, making the application of the proposed two-point penalty less frequent” and that there was “no cost recovery mechanism to offset the associated costs” of SB 1509, which would impose “further financial or administrative strain on the DMV.”
In response, SAFE has released this statement from State Legislation Coordinator Kristen Weiss:
“Streets Are For Everyone and supporters of SB 1509 express deep disappointment regarding the governor’s veto of this important bill. The reasons outlined for the veto — specifically the claims about lack of deterrence for speeding and associated costs — reflect a misunderstanding of the bill’s intent and impact.
“The governor’s veto message overlooks key details about SB 1509, such as the CA DMV's own report documenting how adding points to one’s driving records effectively deters dangerous driving behavior. His message also overlooks the fact that Traffic Violator School may prevent point accumulation for lesser offenses; drivers cited for speeding 26 mph over the speed limit would have already had an opportunity to remove a single point from their record and would not be eligible to remove the two additional points they would receive as per SB 1509.
“The governor also said this bill would cost money to implement, which the state can’t afford. This contradicts the conversations the bill’s author had with DMV, where they confirmed that implementing the bill by 2027 would align seamlessly with their modernization timeline, resulting in minimal to no financial impact.
“Even if it did cost $100,000 to program it into DMV computers (this estimate is probably high) and this only saved a few lives each year (though SB 1509 would likely save a lot more than a few lives), isn’t this worth it?
“Even if we only care about the cost to the state and not people’s lives, per a 2018 report by the CDC traffic collisions cost the State of California 5.83 billion dollars yearly. Adjusted for inflation, this would translate into a cost of 7.28 billion today. Only a few lives would mean at least 5.4 million dollars saved for the state, which is far more than it would cost to implement.
“Speeding continues to be a critical issue on California roads, with 1,509 lives lost in speed-related collisions in 2021 alone. SB 1509 was designed to enhance safety, particularly in high-risk areas like the Pacific Coast Highway. The veto of this bill represents a missed opportunity to protect Californians from dangerous speeding behaviors. ”
AB 2984:
(Supported by SAFE and SAFE Families; Introduced by Assm. Gipson)
AB 2984 would raise the statute of limitations for hit-and-runs up to three years if the offender is out of state, giving victims hope for justice in the event that the offender flees the state.
Governor Newsom signed AB 2984 into law on September 27th, 2024.
SB 1216:
(Supported by SAFE; Introduced by Sen. Blakespear)
SB 1216 would prohibit the California Transportation Commission from adding a project that creates a Class III bikeway or a sharrow to a project unless it clearly creates safer road conditions for cyclists and other road users.
Governor Newsom signed SB 1216 into law on September 27th, 2024.
SB 1271:
(Supported by SAFE; Introduced by Sen. Min)
SB 1271 would mandate that the state Fire Marshal adopt regulations that promote the fire and electrical safety of electric bicycles and storage batteries.
Governor Newsom signed SB 1271 into law on September 27th, 2024.
SB 1297:
(Supported by SAFE; Introduced by Sen. Allen)
SB 1297 would authorize the City of Malibu to establish a speed enforcement program that would use up to five speed-safety-systems on the Pacific Coast Highway to deter speeding.
Governor Newsom signed SB 1297 into law on September 27th, 2024.
AB 2186:
(Opposed by SAFE; Introduced by Assm. Wallis)
AB 2186 would extend the ability to arrest individuals involved in speed contests, reckless driving or exhibitions of speed on highways to also include off-street parking facilities.
While SAFE supports the intent to curb speed contests and dangerous driving behavior, we opposed the bill unless amended because expanding the provisions to off-street facilities would eliminate legal avenues for street racing in controlled environments away from roads.
Governor Newsom signed AB 2186 into law on September 23rd, 2024.
AB 1978:
(Opposed by SAFE; Introduced by Assm. Sanchez)
This bill makes it easier to impound vehicles and arrest individuals placing barriers in off-street parking lots to engage in illegal speed contests, reckless driving, or exhibitions of speed.
Again, while SAFE supports the intent to curb illegal speed contests and dangerous driving behavior, we opposed the bill unless amended because we advocate for legal, safe avenues for speed contests off of roads to deter racing on public roads, which pose a greater danger to other road users.
Governor Newsom signed AB 1978 into law on September 23rd, 2024.