Assemblywoman pushes for immediate action on Highway 12

Wolk to introduce bill for median strips, add urgency clause to current bill addressing Rt. 12 safety

SACRAMENTO–Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) today pushed for immediate safety improvements on Highway Route 12 where three fatal accidents took place over the past three days.

This morning, Wolk announced her decision to introduce urgency legislation to add median dividers along a stretch Route 12 between Solano and San Joaquin Counties.  Wolk also took action to add an urgency clause to her Assembly Bill 112 to create double fine zones on Route 12. Without an urgency clause, the bills would take effect January 1, 2008. An urgency clause will allow the bills to take effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature.

“The unsafe driving conditions on Route 12 demand immediate response,” said Wolk. “We need to take strong steps to improve safety measures on this treacherous stretch of road. Three accidents, three deaths, in three days. Clearly, something must be done, and done soon. People shouldn’t have to fear for their lives anytime these use this state highway.”

Wolk’s AB 112 will double the base fines for certain moving violations such as speeding, reckless driving, and drunken driving along Route 12 between the State Highway Route 80 junction in Solano County and the State Highway Route 5 junction in San Joaquin County.

She discussed the issue this morning with members of the Solano Transportation Authority (STA), the sponsor of Wolk’s AB 112. Among those in the meeting were Vacaville Mayor Len Augustine, Fairfield Mayor Harry Price, Suisun City Mayor Pete Sanchez, Fairfield Mayor Harry Price, and Rio Vista Mayor Eddie Woodruff. 

Woodruff, a native of Rio Vista, said he remembers when Route 12 was a quiet country road.  But driving conditions have become so dangerous, he said, that he asks himself whether each trip is worth the risk. Even his daughter’s choice of college was made so that she wouldn’t have to commute on Route 12.  

“I think we owe it to the people out there who are driving safely, doing their daily business, traveling to school or work. Increased enforcement and education are all part of the solution. But to really protect people, we need physical barriers,” said Woodruff. “People have the expectation that they can travel public roadways safely. If they can’t, we’ve failed them.”

Wolk’s AB 112, as well as her resolution to name a portion of Route 12 after the Rio Vista Police Officer who died in an accident there last year, will be heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee on March 26.