Congresswoman Laura Friedman has announced new bipartisan legislation that would aid law enforcement agencies in accessing federal funding for state-of-the-art technology to help prevent and de-escalate high-speed car chases.
The Next Gen Road Safety Act (H.R. 8217) would amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to allow federal COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) grants to be used for the purchase of drones, vehicle-disabling systems and other technology to assist police during active pursuits.
Friedman, who represents the 30th District, addressed the key goals of the proposed bill – which was introduced in the U.S. House on April 9 – alongside a coalition of road safety advocates and local law enforcement leaders during a community event at McCambridge Park in Burbank.
“Every person on our roads deserves to get home safe – the officer on patrol, the family driving to dinner, the teenager walking to school,” said Friedman. “Right now, our officers are facing a massive technology gap. They don’t have the modern gear to de-escalate dangerous chases quickly and safely. … [Officers] need better tools to do their job safely and protect the public.
“This bill is simple, it’s bipartisan and it will save lives,” she continued. “When we invest in smarter tools, everybody wins.”
Some of the technology-based tools available that can be utilized during high-speed police chases include vehicle-disabling systems that can stop a fleeing car; drones to help law enforcement track a vehicle from the air and limit putting officers or the public at risk on the ground; and police bumper systems to help reduce the risk of dangerous collisions.
Los Angeles County Assistant Sheriff Myron Johnson said the Next Gen Road Safety Act “is exactly the kind of partnership we need to address one of the most dangerous aspects of modern-day policing.” Throughout the department’s jurisdiction in LA County, officers have been involved in 936 vehicle pursuits in 2023, 893 in 2024 and 720 in 2025, said Johnson.
By contrast, the LA Police Department (LAPD) has reported a surge in police chases across its own jurisdiction, with 1,116 pursuits in 2024, the highest number since 2018.
“Every single pursuit carries serious risk and the need for safer outcomes remains necessary. This legislation is a smart, common-sense step forward,” said Johnson. “This is about giving our personnel the ability to use better tools to make better decisions in real time. It’s about reducing risk, saving lives and ensuring that public safety doesn’t come at the cost of another tragedy.”
Between 2017 and 2022, at least 3,336 people were killed in police car chases nationwide, averaging nearly two per day. More than half of those killed were not the drivers fleeing from police; rather, they were passengers in other vehicles, pedestrians or other bystanders.
In California, there have been more bystander deaths from police pursuits than in any other state. In 2022 alone, high-speed chases resulted in five deaths of bystanders, and 34 deaths overall. In addition, more than 400 bystanders were injured – “people who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Friedman.