Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez introduced AB 162 to prevent deadly wrong way accidents from occurring on California’s highways.
In February 2014, a wrong-way driver caused a three-vehicle collision on the 60 freeway in Diamond Bar resulting in the death of 6. Witnesses reported seeing the driver going the wrong way at a high rate of speed on both the 57 and 60 freeways before the crash occurred. According to the California Highway Patrol, an estimated average of 200 wrong-way collisions occur each year on state freeways and highways.
“During my career as an Emergency Medical Technician, I have seen too many accidents that could have been prevented,” said Rodriguez. “It feels like we are constantly seeing another story about someone being killed because a driver was going the wrong way on the freeway. It is necessary for California to review the effectiveness of our current safety measures and explore other ideas that may be out there to help save lives.”
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, wrong-way collisions are more likely to result in serious injury or death than any other type of traffic accident. Other states such as Florida and Texas have launched pilot programs and studies to determine if there are more effective countermeasures that can help reduce the frequency of drivers entering the freeway on the wrong side of the road.
AB 162 would direct the California Department of Transportation, in consultation with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, to conduct a 1-year study to identify solutions to reducing the number of wrong-way driving incidents. Under the bill, the Department of Transportation would have until January 1, 2017 to report their findings to the legislature.
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Assemblymember Rodriguez represents the 52nd Assembly District which includes the cities of Chino, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona and portions of unincorporated Fontana