Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

CalMatters Dives Into the Deadly Relicensing Practices at DMV

“We found nearly 40% of the drivers charged with vehicular manslaughter since 2019 have a valid license.”

While state legislators, city councils, and activists all look for ways to make California’s streets safer, a groundbreaking report by CalMatters illustrates the important role that our state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) plays in keeping our roads unsafe.

In “License to Kill,” journalist Robert Lewis and a team of eight researchers scoured DMV records from counties across the state. The report’s findings are illustrated by a series of heartbreaking stories about families whose lives were destroyed after crashes--and how the people responsible are legally back on the road.

The scariest part is this statistic: “We found nearly 40% of the drivers charged with vehicular manslaughter since 2019 have a valid license.”

If you have the stomach to read more, check out the entire series at CalMatters:

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

UCLA Report Shows How Freeway Construction Last Century Was Used to Destroy and Divide Communities of Color

“Understanding the history of racism in freeway development can inform restorative justice in these areas.”

November 25, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines

Calbike, Waymo, E-bikes, and More...

November 25, 2025

Op-ed: Waymo May Finally Teach Americans the Speed Limit

Do Americans even understand that posted speed limits aren't advisory?

November 24, 2025

Monday’s Headlines

It's going to be a short week, but we have some exciting content before the break.

November 24, 2025
See all posts