Unlicensed drivers in California — the vast majority of whom are illegal immigrants — are nearly three times as likely to cause a fatal crash as licensed drivers, according to a study by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The report suggests that merely meeting the modest requirements necessary to get a license — passing a written exam and driving test — could improve road safety and help reduce the several thousand fatalities that occur in the state each year.
"If you don't hold people accountable to acceptable standards, then we get people that aren't prepared and don't have the skill set," said Tyler Izen, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League.
The recently released DMV report is the agency's first significant analysis of unlicensed drivers in 15 years and adds fuel to the debate over whether illegal immigrants should be eligible for licenses.
Immigrant rights groups say that granting such licenses would reduce fatalities and costly uninsured motorist claims. Insurance companies paid out $634 million in claims for collisions related to uninsured motorists in 2009, according to the most recent data from the state.
It "really goes against public safety because the current law forces people who would otherwise be properly licensed to drive without one," said Angela Sanbrano, board president for the Central American Resource Center in Los Angeles.
Critics, however, argue that giving licenses to undocumented immigrants merely rewards illegal activity.
"One study shouldn't trump the obvious — if you don't want illegal aliens in the country, why do you want to encourage them to be on the roads?" said Bob Dane, spokesman for the Washington-based Federation for American Immigration Reform. "It just defies common sense."
The DMV report looked at 23 years of data on fatal accidents. Its conclusions were similar to the last such report in 1997, which looked at accident data from 1987 to 1992. The latest report was also the first analysis since a 1994 change in the state law that required all licensed drivers show proof of legal residency, which significantly increased the number of unlicensed drivers.
Rough estimates put the number of unlicensed drivers at about 2 million, compared with the approximately 24 million licensed drivers.
Many of the unlicensed motorists say they would get licenses if they could.
Maria Galvan, a 42-year-old illegal immigrant in Los Angeles, said she has little choice but to drive to work, pick up groceries and take her daughters to school.
"We need driver's licenses to be comfortable and be trusted and follow the law," Galvan said.
Repeated legislative efforts to allow illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses have been met with stiff resistance.
Former Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) tried unsuccessfully nine times to get a law passed.
But the political winds may be changing.
Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law allowing some illegal immigrants who qualify for a new federal work permit program to get driver's licenses.
Los Angeles City Councilman Ed Reyes said it was time to offer that opportunity to all illegal immigrants in California.
"No matter who is behind the wheel, they need to be prepared and understand the rules of the road," Reyes said. "That's a significant issue when you live in a city that has a culture driven by cars."
Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Watsonville) introduced a bill last week that would provide driver's licenses to anyone who can show they pay taxes, regardless of their immigration status.
