Traffic Safety Bills Proposed in Washington’s State Legislature

As traffic fatalities continue to climb in Washington and around the country, three proposed state bills would prohibit some right turns on red, reduce the BAC limit for DUI arrests, and require more young drivers to take driver’s education courses.

1 minute read

January 31, 2023, 9:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Stoplight with green light and "no right turn on red" pictograph on overhead signal

sockagphoto / No right turn on red

The Washington state legislature will vote on multiple traffic safety bills this session, reports Megan Allison for KATU. 

As Allison explains, Senate Bill 1582 would ban right turns at red lights within a thousand feet of institutions like hospitals, playgrounds, and elementary schools. Senate Bill 5002 would drop the blood alcohol content (BAC) required for a DUI arrest to 0.05 from the traditional 0.08. Meanwhile, another bill would increase the age at which it is no longer required to take a driver’s education course to receive a license from 18 to 25, in response to the high number of crashes involving younger drivers.

Sunday, January 29, 2023 in KATU.com

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