J. Exon: “I rise to introduce the High-Risk Drivers Act. Senator Danforth and I worked very hard on this legislation in the last…”

“I rise to introduce the High-Risk Drivers Act. Senator Danforth and I worked very hard on this legislation in the last Congress and I hope it can be passed quickly this year. This is indeed a most appropriate time for introduction and swift passage. While we have made significant progress in reducing death and injury on America's highways, it is time to build on that success and focus Federal resources on those areas which will produce the highest return on safety for each dollar invested. At this time of scrutiny for all Federal spending, the high-risk drivers bill gives taxpayers a great value. Three groups of drivers need special attention in our continuing efforts to make the Nation's highways safer. They are young drivers, high-risk drivers or repeat offenders and older drivers. This legislation encourages the States and the Federal Government to focus attention on all three groups. Even with the great need to reduce the Federal budget deficit, this is one area where we must recognize and take action on the fact that a small investment will yield significant returns. When I chaired a hearing on this important legislation last year, one expert testified that if this legislation were enacted, there would be at least a tenfold return on investment due to reduced costs of death, injury, and loss of productivity.”