Advocates has offered support for enactment of Assembly Bill (AB) 981 in the California Assembly Appropriations Committee to establish an intelligent speed assistance (ISA) pilot program for people convicted of excessive speeding, reckless driving or racing offenses in Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento and Kern counties. This safety upgrade is critical and timely.
Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento and Kern counties suffer from a high and rising level of traffic fatalities. In 2023, each ranked 8th or higher in traffic fatalities among California counties with Los Angeles County having the most traffic fatalities.vi Moreover, all five counties experienced double digit increases in traffic fatalities from 2019-2023 with traffic fatalities increasing 19 percent in Sacramento, 15 percent in Kern, 13 percent in Los Angeles, 11 percent in Fresno and 10 percent in San Diego. 40 percent of the state’s traffic fatalities in 2023 occurred in these counties.
ISA is technology that can identify the speed limit in real time and limit the speed of vehicles exceeding the specified threshold. This month, Washington enacted ISA legislation, Virginia did so in April and the District of Columbia, last year. We urge California to become a leader in this safety trend and advance this bill.
Read the full letter here.
Advocates previously sent a letter of support to the California Assembly’s Public Safety Committee. Click here to view.