Walk SF supports Intelligent Speed Assistance

Speeding kills. But there are solutions.

Every year, more than 1,000 Californians are killed in speeding-related traffic crashes. Tens of thousands are injured.

And the threat is growing, with the automobile industry is making bigger, heavier, more powerful vehicles than ever – with many accelerating to 60 MPH in just seconds.

But there are commonsense solutions to slow down drivers and save lives. One of these is Intelligent Speed Assistance, which uses advanced driver assistance (like when your car alerts you that someone is in your blind spot) to let drivers know they are speeding. This technology is now required in all European vehicles, supported by the majority of Americans, and recommended by both the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In 2024, Walk SF was proud to sponsor State Senator Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 961, which would have required all cars and trucks manufactured or sold in California (except emergency vehicles and motorcycles) to give an audio and visual alert to drivers when they’re going more than 10 MPH above the speed limit, starting in 2030.

The Campaign for SB 961

Walk SF was a leader in the campaign to make SB 961 law, working especially closely with Families for Safe Streets to bring the personal stories of victims to elected leaders.

During the campaign:

• We organized a trip with Families for Safe Streets members from around the state to Sacramento.
• Our executive director Jodie Medeiros and Families for Safe Streets member Joe Martinez both made expert testimonies at hearings. (Watch Jodie’s and Joe’s).
• We helped garner 5,000+ emails, hundreds of phone calls, widespread media coverage, and endorsements from the nation’s safety experts.

The California State Assembly voted 42-12 and the California State Senate voted 26-9 to pass SB 961.

Sadly, on September 27, Governor Newsom stood with the auto industry instead of with victims and for our safety. We are extremely disappointed by this decision.

But despite this loss, SB 961 has accelerated progress on the adoption of technology to address dangerous speeding.The conversation has already dramatically changed and we will continue to build on this.

The Work Continues

Walk SF’s efforts to make Intelligent Speed Assistance a standard, required feature of new cars and trucks will continue – as well as other vehicle safety requirements that better protect people outside the vehicle.

It took six years to pass state legislation allowing speed cameras to be piloted in California, so we know these campaigns can take multiple attempts. But with the support of our members, we will keep pushing for lifesaving technology in vehicles.