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VietnameseWe Save Lives supports AB 863, which prohibits supervising drivers from being under the influence of drugs or alcohol or both.
We Save Lives supports support HB 443, legislation that would add two words (stop and) in four places in the Texas Transportation Code.
April 2, 2021
AB 863 – DUI Loophole Fact Sheet
April 7, 2021
“Take Action and Keep Others from Driving Dangerously”
April 6th, 2021
The Honorable Laura Friedman
Chair, Assembly Transportation Committee
1020 N Street Room 112
Sacramento, California 95814
RE: AB 863 (Fong) — SUPPORT
Dear Assembly Member Friedman:
Drunk driving kills 28 people a day in this country, that is one person every 52 minutes. Furthermore,
drunk driving accounts for nearly 30 % of all deaths on California roads each year. This doesn’t take into
account drugged driving, not to mention the combination of drugs and alcohol, an ever-increasing
problem with equally deadly consequences. As the mother of a daughter killed by a drunk driver, I know
all too well the human toll and suffering this often-repeated crime takes on our families.
We have taken many steps over the years to reduce these numbers and save lives including provisional
licenses to minors. These were implemented to ensure proper training, supervision, and safety of new
and inexperienced drivers. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers.
Provisional licensees are not permitted to operate a vehicle alone at any time. Unfortunately, the current
statute does not require the supervising driver to be in the front seat, much less sober. Supervising a
provisional licensee while impaired puts the driving minor, passengers, and others who share the
road at serious and potentially fatal consequences. If there is a potential risk due to driver
inexperience how is the supervising driver supposed to quickly intervene if they are in the back seat and
or impaired?
I urge you to support AB 863, which prohibits supervising drivers from being under the influence of drugs or alcohol or both while accompanying a permitholder and requires the supervising driver to occupy the front seat.
As of today, 44 other states have already closed these dangerous loopholes in statute, ensuring responsible supervision. California cannot afford to sit on the sideline while our most vulnerable drivers are put at risk. On behalf of We Save Lives and our partners we respectfully ask for your support on AB 863.
Sincerely,
Candace Lightner, President,
We Save Lives
Founder MADD
Organization
cc: ![]()
Assemblyman Vince Fong, Vice-Chair and Author
Members, Assembly Transportation Committee
2850 S. Quincy St. #6943 Arlington VA 22206![]()
clightner@weavelives.org ![]()
501c3 Tax Exempt ![]()
