Traffic Law
Count on higher fines for some traffic violations and more time for teens to get a driver’s license. These are just some of the legislative changes for California drivers this year.
With an increase in the number of drivers on California roads--up to 4 million registered vehicles the past 10 years-- drivers face increasing distractions and are more likely to encounter accidents, say the Automobile Club of Southern California. According to the Automobile Club. one out of every 56 licensed drivers in the state was involved in a fatal or injury collision in 1996 and there has been only one day without a traffic fatality in California since 1968: May 1, 1991.
Legislators hope that making a driver’s license harder to obtain--and easier to revoke--will result in better drivers. Some other states that have passed similar laws restricting teen drivers have reported decreases in late-night teen accidents. And in addition to the teen license restrictions, the Department of Motor Vehicles’ driving test has become more difficult in recent years. “We’ve always considered a driver’s license a privilege, not a right,” said Arline Dillman, traffic safety manager for the Auto Club.
Many of the vehicle code changes involve small fee hikes such as an additional $1 for vehicle registration and $3 more for vehicle-transfer fees. Shown here are highlights of the bigger changes.
(New) Teen Drivers
Brady-Jared Teen DRiver Safety Act of 1997
* New for ‘98: Effective July 1, a graduated licensing program for teens goes into effect, requiring teens to:
* Hold learner’s permit for 6 months instead of current 30 days before applying for real license. Permit can be obtained at age 15 1/2.
* have 50 hours of driving practice supervised by a guardian, including 10 hours of night driving; now parents must certify that they have spent time practicing with their child. That will probably continue. DMV officials said, with the parent or guardian required to certify having supervised the 50 hours, plus 10 at night.
* Wait for 6 months after obtaining license before transporting other teens in a vehicle and for 12 months can’t drive between midnight and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by an adult over 25.
* Why the change?: The No. 1 cause of death to those under 25 is traffic accidents.
Under-19 Drivers in Los Angeles . . .
1996
9 Fatalities: 5 in Valley
Cause: 6 speeding, 1 DUI, 1 ran stop sign, 1 crossed over double yellow line
1997
5 fatalities: 4 in Valley
Cause: 4 speeding, 1 ran into parked truck
California Teen Drivers . . .
California Licensed Drivers
Teens: 4%
Adults: 96%
In Fatal and Injury Collisions
Teens: 10%
Adults: 90%
* NOTE: 1996 figures
(New) Red Light Violations
* New for ‘98: Fine for running a red light increases to $270 from $104.
* Why the change? In 1995 red-light infractions led to 238 deaths and 19,019 injuries in California--in Los Angeles alone, 4,040 accidents were due to running red lights.
Red-Light Traffic collisions in Los Angeles Times
1996
Total collisions
Citywide: 3,131
Valley: 881
With fatalities
Citywide: 19
Valley: 8
With injuries
Citywide: 2,586
Valley: 747
No injuries
Citywide: 562
Valley: 106
*
1997
Total collisions
Citywide: 2,529
Valley: 797
With fatalities
Citywide: 14
Valley: 4
With injuries
Citywide: 2,169
Valley: 697
No injuries
Citywide: 346
Valley: 96
Source: LAPD
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(New) School Bus Flashing Lights
Thomas Edward Lanni Schoolbus Safety Act of 1997
New for ‘98: Requires school bus drivers to operate warning lights and signs when approaching school bus stops, as well as when bus is stopped for loading and unloading pupils. Motorists must come to a complete stop when they see the red lights flashing on front and rear top of the bus.
You Can Lose Your License
In California, there are a variety of ways to lose your driver’s license...and many of them are unrelated to driving.
* Ignoring a mailed notice of delinquent parking tickets
* Habitual truancy (if teen)
* Failing to pay child support
* Conviction for vandalism, including violating graffiti laws
* Conviction for soliciting prostitution within 1,000 feet of a home when the act involves the use of a car
* Conviction for any drug crime
Did you know...
* The city can sell your car if you don’t pay to have the Denver boot removed?
* In 1996, a traffic collision was reported every 1 minute and six seconds, and one person was injuried every minute and 45 seconds in a traffic collision.
* The fine for going around railroad gates in L.A. County is a minimum of is $271, along with the possibility of imprisonment and/or a suspended license
* It’s legal to drive barefoot, but illegal to wear backless shoes while driving
* 1/4 to 1/3 of drivers in Los Angeles fail the driver’s test the first time
Traffic Safety Sites
California Department of Motor Vehicles: www.dmv.ca.gov/
California Office of Traffic Safety: www.sna.com/ots/
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
Sources: Automobile Club of Southern California; CHP; DMV; LAPD
Researched by JULIE SHEER / Los Angeles Times
