"Our goal is to reduce traffic fatalities by 10 percent by the year 2010," said Chris Murphy from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Parts of the plan target drivers -- they'll need to score higher on the written test to get a license. Right now you only need 80 percent to pass.
And the behind-the-wheel test will soon get tougher. It will include a drive on the freeway.
"It does constitute a change in our operation. It does mean a longer drive test. And it is something we need to look at," said DMV Director George Valverde.
Most drivers at this DMV office don't mind the extra hoops in the licensing process if it makes people better drivers.
"You'd think that people are getting their licenses out of a Cracker Jack's box," said driver Russell Yeargan.
The plan also addresses aggressive driving and speeding. Traffic agencies will ask the Legislature to introduce a bill that'll allow authorities to impound a dangerous driver's vehicle.
To crackdown even further on drunk driving, hospital staff would be required to notify law enforcement of patients they believe came from a collision involving alcohol.
"Actually, those are all good ideas, because there's too many accidents out there," said driver Christina Duncan.
The state has already seen marked improvements at intersections where cameras catch red light runners. Some studies show it reduced injury crashes 25 percent to 30 percent. Beverly Hills is about to try a pilot program that similarly takes a picture of the license plate of a car speeding and then a ticket is sent in the mail. If that's successful, that could also end up in the highway safety plan.
