The House has passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Joy Hearn (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence) that would instill a mandatory suspension of an operator’s license in the instance that a driver is convicted of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily harm to an individual.
Its a step forward for encouraging highway safety, and perhaps another step will be taken as the Senate seems to be on the verge of passing a bill to give judges and magistrates some authority to require ignition interlock devices when someone is convicted of certain drunk driving offenses.
But what it not moving as of now are various highway safety related bills intended to have a rel penalty when drvers injure or kill someone without criminal intent – thru carelessness or by committing a traffic infraction, and “complete street” bills to encourage sfrer infrastructure of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users etc. Maybe its not too late!