Officials in Washington, DC, are talking about new measures they believe will have a greater impact on road safety, including targeting Virginia and Maryland drivers.
The Department of Public Works has noticed that many of the cars responsible for dangerous and risky driving in the city come from outside the district, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
The DPW has been targeting entertainment districts like Adam’s Morgan on weekends to track down and tow drivers who, in some cases, have accumulated thousands of dollars in traffic violations in DC but never paid them.
“They’re evading the law and speeding through the streets – our streets,” said Johnny Gaither, DC’s parking enforcement director. “They’re ignoring red lights and stop signs.”
Drivers who are towed will not get their car back unless they pay the fine in full. The DPW said it opened a third detention facility because so many vehicles are being towed.
Officials say signs telling drivers how fast they are going will allow them to gather information and direct resources where they will have the greatest impact.
There are also electronic signs that detect when drivers are using their phones while driving.
“It happens instantly, and then we actually see behavior change, not for weeks, but in that moment,” said Rick Birt, director of the DC Highway Safety Office.
There are currently no fines associated with the signs.
DC’s Vision Zero goal was to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious injuries by this year, but so far there have been 34 deaths on the District’s roads by 2024.
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