California lawmakers have embraced a variety of efforts to make the state’s freeways and streets safer, as epitomized by a statement Gov. Gavin Newsom issued late last year. He pointed to new laws that, for instance, expand the use of automated speed cameras, stop license-plate obstruction and invest in “safer, more inclusive street design.” The state even embarked on a project of “road diets” that reduce traffic lanes to slow drivers.
Yet the state continues to ignore the most obvious way to improve road safety: remove the licenses of those drivers who have a history of driving dangerously. A shocking investigative report by CalMatters called “License to Kill” highlighted California’s inexplicable willingness to allow the deadliest drivers to keep driving.
It’s unfathomable—and appalling that the Department of Motor Vehicles had little to say for itself. The DMV “routinely allows drivers … with horrifying histories of dangerous driving, including DUIs, crashes and numerous tickets … to continue to operate on our roadways,” per the report. Too often they go on to kill. Many keep driving even after they kill. Some go on to kill again.”
The anecdotes are heartbreaking, as they tell stories of repeated DUI offenders and others who have killed people who were just going about their business.
According to the publication, “Roughly 400 drivers accused of causing a fatal crash since 2019 received a ticket, got in another collision or did both after the date they allegedly killed someone on the road.”
We’re not calling for the state to become overly aggressive in removing licenses for questionable reasons, but these are clear-cut cases.
A recent trend among urbanists is to improve safety by reducing car dependence. Indeed, around 4,400 people die each year on California roadways, although a large percentage are drug- or alcohol-related. The state shouldn’t be targeting cars, but dangerous drivers.
As CalMatters notes, one problem is that “once crashes, tickets and suspensions fall off a driver’s record after a few years, it’s often as if the motorist’s record is wiped clean. So even if the driver gets in trouble again, the agency often treats any future crashes and traffic violations as isolated incidents, not as part of a longer pattern of reckless driving.”
DMV has the authority to act, but doesn’t. Road safety is important, so lawmakers should take the basic steps to get killer drivers off the road.
It’s certainly more useful than issuing statements about largely ineffective laws.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( DMV keeping killer drivers on the road )
Also on site :