Sac Stupidity: Let's distract drivers right as they are avoiding something

I could add a Sacramento Stupidity post pretty much every week.  The authoritarian streak that runs through supposed "progressives" is strong and unrelenting.  Take Scott Weiner's latest ham-fisted approach to "traffic safety" as reported in the DJ

A bill that would make California the first state in the nation to mandate speed warning systems in all manufactured or sold car models, beginning in 2030, is awaiting the governor’s signature.

San Mateo County residents, policymakers and researchers reflected on the possible impacts of the technology. Authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, it would warn drivers with an “audible and visual signal” every time they exceeded speed limits by more than 10 miles per hour. 

They dredge up some associate prof of civil engineering to assert this is a good idea instead of someone with practical knowledge and research on how drivers actually react to things around them.  Or an automotive human factors engineer.  How much this will add to the cost of car is apparently of no importance.  They even found a guy who thinks a speed limiter will just be programmed right into EV software.  Another authoritarian thinks there should be sky-high penalties for disabling the system.  This is the watered down version of the bill.  Weiner wanted to hardwire the limit +10.  And you thought it was your car.

I can think of dozens of times I have "stepped on it" to avoid a collision or obstruction on the road.  I vaguely remember my Drivers Ed instructor telling 16-year-old me that there are many times when speeding up is safer than slowing down.  Do we want bells, whistles and dashboard lights going off while in the midst of an evasive move?  No thanks.  Will Newsom continue to be guided by his presidential ambitions and veto this?

Comments

[Joanne Bennett]

I would rather see some traffic calming and enforcement. Maybe because Peninsula Avenue is between the cities of Burlingame and San Mateo but I rarely if ever see any type of enforcement for speeding or anything else.

Last Thursday evening at around 6:15 a single mother with a special needs daughter was almost finished crossing the street at Peninsula and Delaware when she tragically was hit from behind and suffered severe head trauma and died.

Apparently the driver was driving down N. Delaware (San
Mateo) and made a left hand turn onto Peninsula (Burlingame)when the woman was hit. She never saw what was coming her way (maybe electric vehicle?).

After this tragic accident I cannot accept that these two cities cannot find a way to somehow make this intersection safer for pedestrians. A few years back I was crossing Peninsula while walking my dog from the San Mateo side to Burlingame. I was mid intersection when a woman making a left turn from Humboldt onto Peninsula almost hit me! I had to wave my arms around for her to notice me and my dog in the crosswalk!

[Margie]

They already have this in new cars in Australia. It’s irritating but not dangerous. Just like the tone every time you go near a lane line, you get used to it.
They also change the speed limit depending on traffic conditions. There are LED signs on overpasses letting you know what the current speed limit is.

[Joe]

I think it is indeed like the lane change warning feature--distracting, irritating, unnecessary and just a touch insulting. Thanks for adding a great example to the discussion.

[Jennifer Pfaff]

I don't know, Joe. It seems to me that peoples' driving skills have declined in parallel to all the "do-dads," bells and whistles in the newer cars. Pedestrians shouldn't be very trusting. They are very vulnerable there, and there is a lot going on. Too much distraction, all around.

'Love the idea of the changing speed limits dependent on conditions, but who enforces when they are very stretched and people know it. Have any of you been on 280 lately. A total free-for-all, and 101 is just plain recklessness.

[Joanne]

Agree with Jennifer!

[resident]

Maybe this will work in Burlingame

https://nypost.com/2024/09/21/us-news/san-francisco-police-use-costumed-stunt-to-catch-speeding-drivers-chicken-crossing/

[Jennifer Pfaff]

Wow, what a great idea. Why not?!? Good for SFPD.