Members of Congress are urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to condemn racial inequality by ending practices and policies in the enforcement of traffic safety that affect the well-being of Black drivers.
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., is leading a group of 27 Congress members who wrote Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg an April 6 letter urging the department “to condemn harmful enforcement practices and develop reforms that support the wellbeing of Black people traveling on our nation’s roads and highways.”
“Driving while Black isn't a crime, but too many Black folks are scrutinized & killed by police in the name of traffic safety,” Pressley said in an April 6 post on Twitter. “That’s why @RepHankJohnson & I want @USDOT to condemn the racial disparities in traffic enforcement & help save Black lives.”
“Black motorists have experienced disproportionate scrutiny and excessive force under the guise of traffic enforcement. This injustice reflects a failed approach to traffic safety,” the letter said. “As Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, we urge you to condemn the status quo of traffic enforcement and develop reforms to reduce racial inequities in traffic stops.”
The letter said traffic safety shouldn’t “come at the expense of the dignity and safety of the Black community,” and that systemic changes such as moving minor traffic infractions “away from enforcement by armed police officers” should be considered. Upgrading traffic lights and eliminating financial barriers to vehicle registration can reduce enforcement demands, the letter said.
The letter urges the DOT to take a holistic approach to transportation policy that considers factors such as housing, public health and environmental justice. By doing so, the Congress members hope to create a more just and equitable transportation system for all Americans.
“Driving while Black may not be a real crime codified in law, but it is treated as one throughout the country,” the letter said. “Everyone in this country deserves access to a just transportation system. It is the literal pathway to our most basic needs and our greatest dreams.”