In 2004, Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety (Advocates) launched this annual review of selected, basic traffic safety laws that states adopt, ignore, or fail to muster the political will to pass. These laws represent some of the most effective strategies for reducing the death and injury toll on our neighborhood streets and highways. Unfortunately, while some state legislatures took action in the 1980s, too many others have never seriously considered enactment. The latest available data in 2005 on highway deaths and injuries is a call to action -- 43,443 people killed in motor vehicle crashes, the highest fatality number since 1990. The 2007 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws continues to demonstrate that last year’s pace of legislative adoption of highway safety laws is glacial. Only 22 laws were passed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to upgrade seat belt laws to primary enforcement, add graduated driver licensing components to teen driving programs, require booster seat use for 4 to 8 year olds, and close gaps in numerous impaired driving laws. Not one state passed an all-rider motorcycle helmet law yet six states considered repeals, despite another major leap in motorcycle deaths for the eighth year in a row, increasing an astounding 115% since 1997. In 2005 Congress passed landmark legislation, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act, A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), providing cash incentives to states that adopt several highway safety laws. States lacking a primary seat belt enforcement law can reap millions of dollars, and even more important, save lives and reduce costly injuries, by passing this lifesaving law. Only three states took advantage of this generous federal program in 2006. Federal money is also available for passage of booster seat laws. Today, 12 states still have no booster requirements and 35 need to strengthen their laws. This year every state legislature will be in session. We commend those elected officials, governors and representatives, who championed these laws last year and lost, and we strongly urge citizen activists and political leaders to take up the cause again. Working together we can remove these legislative roadblocks that harm families, drain state treasuries and jeopardize highway safety for everyone. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting