Study supports granting driver’s license to undocumented people to make the routes safer By Miami Diario Newsroom
The report made by the
Florida Policy Institute discusses the benefits of licensing undocumented immigrants.
1 – More people would be tested and trained to drive safely
Research shows that unlicensed drivers are more dangerous than licensed drivers and even those who drive with revoked or suspended licenses.
“Anyone sharing Florida’s roads needs a solid understanding of proper driving techniques and traffic rules so that everyone can travel safely and efficiently,” says Jany Martinez-Ward , partner with the law firm
The Ward Law Group . His firm represents Spanish-speaking accident victims. “People who are currently driving without a license may have received training to drive in their home country and / or have not had the opportunity to learn specific Florida traffic rules.”
Currently, to obtain a license in Florida, individuals must take a driving test, take a vision and hearing test, learn common road signs and rules, and demonstrate an understanding of the relationship. between alcohol and other drugs and driving problems.
Studies have found that states that allow driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants have, on average, fewer traffic-related deaths than states that restrict access.
Preliminary data also shows that licensed drivers may be less likely to flee the scene of an accident.
California, for example, issued driver’s licenses to all residents in 2015, including more than 1 million undocumented immigrants, and has seen a 10 percent decrease in hit-and-run and millions saved in expenses. related.
In Connecticut, a similar law was implemented that same year, (cities with the highest number of driver’s licenses issued to undocumented immigrants saw a 15 percent decrease in hit-and-run.
“
Florida should join 13 other states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to grant driver’s licenses to all residents of driving age, regardless of their immigration status, ”says Martínez-Ward.
The
Insurance Research Council says Florida It has the highest rate of uninsured drivers in the United States at 26.5 percent – a figure attributed in part to undocumented immigrants who have been denied driver’s licenses.
3 – Victims of undocumented cars wouldn’t waste money on recovery costs unnecessarily
Many times people without papers when they are victims of an accident, do not wait for the police. Therefore, they do not receive the police report that is necessary to make an insurance claim.
“Failure to obtain a police report hurts these victims as they must spend money to repair the car and undergo medical treatment to recover from the physical injuries,” says Martinez-Ward.
The Florida Policy Institute is an independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting widespread prosperity through timely, thoughtful, and objective analysis of state policy issues that affect economic opportunities. The Institute provides an analysis of the state budget and revenue trends and proposes common sense policy options with the goal of fostering public education, debate, and informed action. The Institute promotes tax policies that expand economic opportunity for all Floridians.
