Boston Safety Chief Seems To Fit In In City Famed For Bad Drivers, He’s An Apparent Road Menace

Boston’s famously bad drivers may have found a kindred spirit in their new transportation commissioner.

William E. Luster, who oversees traffic safety and parking, has a record that would make a driving instructor cringe: Between 1989 and 1994, he caused three accidents, got five speeding tickets and was arrested twice for driving with a suspended license.

In fact, he was such a road menace he had to take a driver re-education course last year.

“You know what it is? It’s the inmate running the asylum,” said a 26-year-old cab driver who identified himself only as Thomas. “That is typical for Boston. I’m surprised he’s not from Boston.”

Luster, 36, left his job as Salem’s planning director to begin his new job Wednesday in a city where drivers make illegal U-turns whenever the mood strikes and abruptly change lanes with a blaring of horns and the one-finger hand signal. Luster’s driving record was first reported Friday by Boston’s newspapers.

Mayor Thomas Menino reacted with surprise upon learning of his appointee’s driving record but said he was satisfied after talking to him and labeled it “no big thing.”

“Certainly there is a certain example you like to have set,” said David Passafaro, the mayor’s chief of staff. But he added: “Although the activity is serious, it appears Bill has learned his lesson.”

Luster said most of his driving woes stemmed from a 1989 speeding ticket. He planned an appeal but didn’t show up in court, deciding to pay the fine the next day.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles, he said, failed to record his payment, and unbeknownst to him his license was suspended. So later, when he was pulled over for speeding, he was listed as someone who was not supposed to be driving.

“I’m not walking away from the speeding tickets, but I never had any indication my license was suspended and I felt victimized by those two arrests,” Luster said.