California Roads Are Killing Our Families — And Our Leaders Are Not Doing Enough About It!

Written By Stefanie Medlin

December 11, 2025


Over the past decade, nearly 40,000 people have died and more than 2 million have been injured on California’s roads — a staggering human toll that deserves urgent attention. Yet, as a powerful new investigation from CalMatters reveals, state leaders have largely turned a blind eye to this crisis:  40,000 people died on California roads. State leaders looked away.

What’s the Problem?

The CalMatters series “License to Kill” exposes a systemic failure to confront dangerous driving and roadway violence across California:

  • Roadway deaths are rising sharply — after years of decline, fatalities have climbed more than 60% since 2010.

  • Dangerous drivers are staying on the road — repeat drunk drivers, chronic speeders, and motorists with documented histories of reckless behavior often continue driving, with deadly consequences.

  • California’s DUI laws are among the weakest in the nation, and despite a dramatic surge in alcohol-related traffic deaths, efforts to strengthen these laws have stalled or been weakened.

Where Leaders Have Failed

At a Senate Transportation Committee hearing, earlier this year, CalTrans showed lawmakers a stark chart of the climbing death toll — and barely received a question about it. Instead, legislators focused on unrelated topics like homeless encampments, gender identity on IDs, and gas taxes. 

Chart presented at the Senate Transportation Committee hearing on March 11, 2025.

Meanwhile, the Department of Motor Vehicles continues to allow drivers with extreme histories of dangerous behavior to keep their licenses with minimal accountability. 

Behind the Numbers: Real Families, Real Loss

The investigation highlights families devastated by preventable crashes. One father lost both of his children to a repeat drunk driver — and fought for a bill requiring in-car breathalyzers for DUI offenders, only to see it gutted.  In Sacramento, families gathered for the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, illuminating the human cost of these policy failures. 

Why This Matters for California

Every year, Californians lose neighbors, friends, siblings, parents and children to traffic violence that experts say could be reduced with stronger laws, better enforcement, and proven safety technologies. The state’s failure to act isn’t just troubling — it’s deadly.

This is not about politics. It’s about public safety, accountability, and protecting communities across California.

What CARS Calls For

To meaningfully address the mounting crisis on California roads, we urge policymakers to:

✅ Make traffic safety a top legislative priority, with regular hearings, transparent data reporting, community input, and measurable goals.

✅ Prioritize legislation that would require any individual in California who receives a traffic citation to complete a DMV licensed traffic violator school course. 

✅ Empower the DMV to act decisively by revoking licenses of dangerous drivers and reporting relevant convictions promptly. 

✅ Strengthen DUI laws — bring California in line with best-practice standards and ensure repeat offenders face real consequences. 

How You Can Help

🚗 Share this post to raise awareness

📬 Contact your state legislators and demand action

📣 Join the CARS trade and advocacy group to strengthen our voice in demanding response from our leaders

🕯️ Honor victims by supporting policy change, not silence

Every Californian deserves safe streets. We must transform the outrage of rising roadway deaths into meaningful change — before more families pay the price.


Stefanie Medlin