The expression “as goes California, so goes the nation” thankfully isn’t always true, much to the chagrin of sidewalk excrement aficionados and fans of dysfunction in general. When it comes to cars, though, California’s predilection for regulating the bejesus out of them does tend to ripple out through the rest of the nation. The size of the state plus the structure of the automotive industry means that rather than producing vehicles that comply with California laws just for Californians to purchase, automakers instead sell those same vehicles nationwide.
That’s why the latest nuttery from one of the commissars of California matters not just to the Golden State, but to the other 49 states, particularly the states that aren’t ruled by insane zealots. If enacted — and given how the state operates, it will most likely pass — the latest additions to Sen. Scott Wiener’s SAFER California Streets package will require all new vehicles to be equipped with a governor that prevents drivers from going faster than 10 mph above the posted speed limit.
California native son Sammy Hagar, writer and singer of “I Can’t Drive 55,” has yet to publicly comment on the act, so I’ll take it upon myself.
First, Sen. Wiener, how dare you? This country wasn’t built on such slow and foolish nonsense. California’s vaunted tech sector is all about moving fast and breaking things, for Pete’s sake.
Second, can you not foresee any situations in which this technology might contribute to deaths, particularly if someone
