California Program Targets Worst Speeders with Strict Penalties

In a bid to enhance road safety, California has introduced a new pilot program targeting motorists caught speeding over 100 mph. The initiative, titled Forwarded Actions for Speeding Tickets, is a collaborative effort between the DMV and the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Launched last week, the program aims to combat the spike in traffic fatalities on state roads.

Program Goals and Details

The program was developed in response to alarming trends highlighted by the California State Transportation Agency. Over the past decade, nearly 40,000 lives have been lost and over 2 million individuals injured due to road traffic incidents in California. Steve Gordon, the director of the DMV, emphasized the urgency of this initiative, stating that immediate actions are necessary to prevent reckless driving from causing fatal accidents.

Automatic Penalties for Speeding

Under this new initiative, any driver cited by the CHP for exceeding 100 mph will have their citation automatically referred to the DMV’s Driver Safety Branch. The DMV will assess each case, regardless of the driver’s previous record. Potential penalties include:

• Suspension of driving privileges
• Revocation of driving privileges

This administrative procedure operates independently of any court conviction, ensuring that penalties can be enforced promptly.

Traffic Fatalities and Statistics

In 2023, California witnessed approximately 3,600 fatalities and over 14,000 serious injuries on public roads. A combination of factors contributes to these incidents, primarily repeat offenders, chronic speeders, and motorists with reckless driving histories. Between 2010 and 2020, fatalities linked to speeding and aggressive driving surged by 52%, according to the California Department of Transportation.

Targeted Road Analysis

An analysis conducted by ConsumerAffairs from 2018 to 2022 highlighted speed as a significant factor in traffic-related incidents. During this period, researchers identified ten particularly hazardous stretches of highway in Southern California. The five deadliest roads included:

The significant increase in fatalities on these roads emphasizes the urgent need for effective measures like the Forwarded Actions for Speeding Tickets program. The DMV will evaluate the program’s effectiveness by comparing data over the next year with previous statistics.