Over the weekend, advocates in Northern and Southern California rallied to ask Governor Gavin Newsom to sign the Safer Vehicles Save Lives Bill, SB 961, and the Unsafe Speeds Bill, SB 1509. CalBike cosponsored Senator Scott Wiener’s bill, SB 961, which will require passive intelligent speed assist (ISA) technology on most vehicles sold in California by 2030. And we also support SB 1509, by Senator Henry Stern, which increases penalties for driving more than 25 mph over the speed limit on roads with speeds set at 55 mph or less. With these two crucial bills now on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, California is poised to lead the nation in road safety reform.

Speed kills

Every year, 4,000 people die on California roads. One-quarter of those deaths are vulnerable road users: people walking or riding bikes. Speed is a factor in many of these deaths and countless more injuries.

Researchers estimate that speed is a factor in around 30% of motor vehicle fatalities. Speed is particularly lethal to pedestrians. A pedestrian’s chance of dying when hit by a vehicle moving at 20 mph is 7%; at 30 mph, it nearly triples to 20%; at 40 mph, the death toll is 45%. The risk is higher for older people, with a 70% fatality rate at 40 mph. 

The Safer Vehicles Save Lives Bill requires new vehicles to warn drivers when they exceed the posted speed limit by 10 mph through a sound or vibration. All new cars sold in the EU now come with ISA. It’s a widely available technology that automakers can easily add to cars sold in the U.S.

The Unsafe Speeds Bill will penalize reckless drivers and could lead to drivers who habitually speed getting enough points on their licenses to have them suspended.

We hope Governor Newsom signs both of these essential bills. 

Not a victimless crime

The toll of traffic violence is much greater than injury and fatality statistics can convey. Near misses and minor collisions that don’t get reported create a climate of fear, discouraging people from biking or walking. People who survive collisions may have their lives upended by injuries that leave them with chronic pain or other health issues and may affect their ability to work or enjoy life.

And each fatality affects far more than one person. Traffic deaths reverberate through families and communities, leading to many more than 4,000 personal tragedies in our state alone every year. 

We spoke with one survivor, Michel Shane, who lost his daughter, Emily, to a reckless driver on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Here is the aftermath of this tragedy, in his words.

“On April 3, 2010, at 5:59 p.m., our lives changed forever. A man, allegedly wanting to end his own life, aimed his car at our 13-year-old daughter Emily, the youngest of our three children, and took her life. He walked away with only a few scratches while we were left with immeasurable grief.

Experiencing these events has profoundly changed us. Some people may understandably be consumed by darkness and never return, having lost a piece of themselves. However, we have chosen to move towards the light, using this tragedy to create something that helps us cope. Life is uncertain and brief, and we have learned that there is no time to waste. We realize that plans can become meaningless in an instant, as we cannot predict what tomorrow holds, or even what the next five minutes will bring.”

When asked what changes he would like to see on this stretch of state roadway to prevent future tragedies, Shane had this response:

“This is a crucial issue. The road in question is a major highway for Malibu and other communities, with around 40,000 cars passing through daily and even more during the summer. It consists of four lanes with a center turn lane, bordered by mountains on one side and the ocean on the other, making significant changes difficult. The road also accommodates bikes, pedestrians, deliveries, and parking, creating dangerous conditions. The city lacks control over this main thoroughfare and cannot afford to manage it. In light of recent tragedies, the focus is on this road. I believe that measures should be taken to discourage racing, and the city should take control of a portion of the road with the highest activity, slowing down traffic and implementing speed cameras. Ultimately, a complete redesign is necessary, considering that the road was designed for speeds of up to 65 miles per hour. With modern technology and knowledge, this road could serve as a model for other communities to follow.”

There shouldn’t be one more person like Emily Shane needlessly killed, nor one more grieving family. California has a chance to lead the nation in traffic safety. The time is now.