Key Takeaways:
- Californians caught speeding at over 100 mph will face new disciplinary actions, including potential loss of driving privileges.
- The Forwarded Actions for Speeding Tickets (FAST) pilot program is a joint effort between the DMV and California Highway Patrol to reduce traffic fatalities.
- The program will review each driver’s case and history to determine next steps, with possible penalties including suspension or revocation of driving privileges.
- The program aims to address the alarming rise in traffic fatalities, with nearly 40,000 deaths and over 2 million injuries on California roads in the last decade.
- Certain highways in Southern California have been identified as particularly deadly, with speed being a major factor in traffic collisions.
Introduction to the FAST Program
Californians who are caught speeding at more than 100 mph will now face new disciplinary actions imposed by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that could include losing their driving privileges. The pilot program, called Forwarded Actions for Speeding Tickets (FAST), is a joint effort by the DMV and California Highway Patrol (CHP) to reverse the alarming rise in traffic fatalities, according to the California State Transportation Agency. The program was launched last week, with the goal of taking immediate action against dangerous drivers before their carelessness leads to a deadly crash. As Steve Gordon, director of the DMV, stated, "We want to take immediate action against dangerous drivers before their carelessness leads to a deadly crash. We’re being proactive, and together with our CHP partners, we’re ready to put the brakes on this reckless behavior."
How the Program Works
On average, CHP officers issue about 1,600 citations each month to drivers flying down the road at speeds in excess of 100 mph, according to the California State Transportation Agency. In 2024, CHP issued more than 18,000 such citations. Under the new pilot program, every driver who is ticketed by the CHP for exceeding 100 mph — regardless of their prior driving record — will have their citation automatically forwarded to the DMV’s Driver Safety Branch. The DMV will then review the case and the driver’s history to determine next steps. The DMV has the discretion to impose penalties that could include the suspension or revocation of driving privileges. This administrative process can proceed independently of any court conviction. The FAST program is not a permanent program, and the DMV will evaluate its impact by comparing citation and outcome data to the same period the previous year.
The Alarming Rise in Traffic Fatalities
Over the last decade, nearly 40,000 people have died and more than 2 million have been injured on California roads, according to a CalMatters investigation. In 2023 alone, there were approximately 3,600 fatalities and more than 14,000 serious injuries on all state public roads, according to data from the California State Transportation Agency. The deaths and injuries were caused by a combination of repeat drunk drivers, chronic speeders, and motorists with documented histories of reckless driving. Since 2010, fatalities and serious injuries related to speeding and aggressive driving increased by 52%, according to the California Department of Transportation. These statistics highlight the need for a program like FAST, which aims to address the alarming rise in traffic fatalities and take proactive measures to prevent further accidents.
Deadly Highways in California
To understand where traffic deaths happen and the factors that contribute to them, researchers from Consumer Affairs analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System in California from 2018 to 2022. The analysis found that speed was a major factor in traffic collisions that lead to death or injury. In its 2024 report, ConsumerAffairs found that the uptick in these specific incidents was partially driven by reckless drivers who took advantage of less-congested roads during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers were able to pinpoint this driver behavior on 10 stretches of state roads primarily in Southern California. The five deadliest stretches of road were identified as the 15 Freeway in San Bernardino County, the 10 Freeway in Riverside County, the 5 Freeway in San Diego County, the 5 Freeway in Orange County, and the 101 Freeway in Santa Barbara County. These highways have seen a significant increase in fatalities over the past few years, with the 15 Freeway in San Bernardino County experiencing a 45% increase in deaths from 2018 to 2022.
Conclusion
The Forwarded Actions for Speeding Tickets (FAST) pilot program is a crucial step towards addressing the alarming rise in traffic fatalities in California. By taking proactive measures against dangerous drivers and imposing penalties for excessive speeding, the program aims to reduce the number of accidents and save lives. The identification of deadly highways in Southern California highlights the need for increased enforcement and education on the dangers of speeding. As the program is evaluated and refined, it is hoped that it will have a significant impact on reducing traffic fatalities and making California’s roads safer for all drivers.
