Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 3 and 34. In 2013, 32,719 deaths and 2.3 million injuries occurred on the nation’s roadways. The May 2014 report, The Economic and Societal Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes 2010 (Economic Impact Report), details the substantial cost of motor vehicle crashes that this country bears every year. In 2010, 32,999 people were killed, 3.9 million were injured and 24 million vehicles were damaged in motor vehicle crashes. The economic costs totalled $277 billion, including lost productivity, medical costs, legal and court costs, emergency service costs, insurance administration costs, congestion costs, property damage and workplace losses. The $277 billion price tag represents the equivalent of approximately $897 for each person living in the United States. Traffic safety is an important public health issue for many people, including state legislators. In 2014, state policymakers debated more than 1,500 traffic safety proposals. This report examines 2014 measures and research related to occupant protection, distracted driving, driver licensing. teen driving, impaired driving, aggressive driving, speed limits, motorcycle helmets, automated enforcement, school bus safety, and pedestrian and bicycle safety. Tables and charts detailing state traffic safety laws are included, as are contacts and links for further information (Appendix A contains National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] regional office contact information). All bills discussed in this report can be found in the NCSLNHTSA Traffic Safety Legislative Tracking Database at http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/state-traffic-safetylegisla…. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting