Highway safety advocates recently released an annual report card grading all 50 states and the District of Columbia on their performance when it comes to adopting and maintaining 15 model traffic safety laws.
This year the report by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety upped the ante, taking closer aim at three laws in particular: messaging, graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs and ignition interlock laws for drunk driving offenders.
Included in the overall review are laws governing seat belts, motorcycle helmets and child booster seats; seven laws on graduated licensing for teens; four laws on impaired driving included ignition locks and open containers; and distracted driving.
The 2010 evaluation suggests that these model laws could be paying off in progress toward safer roads. The latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 2008 saw a significant reduction in fatalities: 37,261 deaths compared to 41,059 in 2007. Safety advocates caution, however, that the drop likely has more to do with the economic downturn than with legislative action.
Advocates Vice President Jackie Gillan said that the 2010 highway safety report card was being released as state legislatures across the country are convening their 2010 sessions.
The full report, 2010 Roadmap Report on State Highway Safety Laws, is available at www.saferoads.org.
Best States for Road Safety Laws
- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
- NEW JERSEY
- ILLINOIS
- MARYLAND
- NEW YORK
- NORTH CAROLINA 11 of 15 laws in force; missing minimum age 16 for learner’s permit, supervised driving provision and age 18 for unrestricted license for teen drivers, an ignition interlock law for all offenders and mandatory testing for drivers killed.
- OREGON
- TENNESSEE 11 of 15 laws on the books; missing minimum age 16 for learner’s permit, recommended nighttime driving provision and age 18 for unrestricted license for teen drivers, an ignition interlock law for all offenders and an open container law.
- MINNESOTA
- CALIFORNIA
- WASHINGTON
Source: Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety; 2010 Roadmap Report on State Highway Safety Laws.
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