John Block, a House Representative from New Mexico, announced he is considering legislation to classify not using turn signals and disobeying traffic laws as felonies. The statement was made on the social media platform X.
"I am seriously considering sponsoring legislation to make not using your turn signal and disobeying traffic laws a felony," said JOHN BLOCK, New Mexico State Representative for 51st District (R). "This madness has to stop, and it has to stop now! Learn how to drive."
New Mexico has been grappling with significant traffic safety issues. According to Ron Bell Injury Lawyers, distracted driving and failure to use turn signals contributed to the state's highest-in-the-nation distracted driving fatality rate of 40.75% in 2021. This alarming statistic has led to increased legislative focus and proposals for stricter enforcement measures.
According to Szantho Law Firm, while New Mexico does not publish specific statistics for accidents directly caused by failure to use turn signals, legal experts and crash data consistently cite this failure as a frequent factor in vehicle accidents and liability cases across the state.
New Mexico law mandates that drivers signal for at least the last 100 feet before turning or slowing down. Unlike some states where repeated traffic violations are considered felonies, New Mexico generally treats such offenses as civil citations, according to Justia.
Block is a Republican who has served in the New Mexico House of Representatives for District 51 since 2023. He has a background in journalism, government affairs, and political communications and founded the conservative outlet The Piñon Post.
