highway safety News

Hawaii Sues Takata, Honda over Defective Air Bags

The state of Hawaii is suing Japanese manufacturer Takata over defective air bags they say threaten peoples’ lives. The lawsuit filed last week in the First Circuit Court of Hawaii also names auto manufacturer Honda. Millions of Takata’s defective air …

Michigan Traffic Deaths Rose 10 Percent Last Year, Officials Say

Officials say Michigan traffic deaths rose 10 percent last year as alcohol-involved, bicyclist, teen and motorcyclist traffic deaths increased. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning says Monday the number of deaths rose from 876 in 2014 to 963 in …

Louisiana Lawmakers Back Motorist Bills: License Plate Scans; Texting; Seatbelts

Louisiana lawmakers have approved several bills related to driving safety. A proposal filed by Republican Sen. Ronnie Johns to allow law enforcement agencies to automatically scan motorists’ license plates was passed by a vote of 30-3 in the Senate. Former …

Colorado DOT to Post Traffic Death Tally Signs to Boost Safety

The Colorado Department of Transportation will begin using electronic signs along highways across the state to post a weekly tally of year-to-date traffic fatalities. The Denver Post reported the tally, which will be posted each Wednesday, will be paired with …

Parts of New Mexico Crippled by Epic Snowstorm

New Mexico had to deal with the fallout of a record-breaking snowstorm that crippled parts of the state, leaving a trail of traffic accidents and shutdowns. In Albuquerque, police say officers responded to 178 weather-related accidents by 9:30 p.m. just …

Widow of Wyoming Man Killed by Sleeping Trucker Files Suit

The widow of a man who died after a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and struck him in southern Wyoming is suing for wrongful death. The Rock Springs Rocket-Miner reported that Katsiaryna Krauchanka has filed a complaint against …

Technology to Improve Truckers Safety Tested in Utah

Utah is test-driving new technology that could improve safety and fuel efficiency for big-rig truckers. The Utah Department of Transportation started conducting field tests last week of a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system aimed at the trucking industry. The tests were done …

Crack Down On Drivers Using Cellphones in Hawaii

Kauai police say they have issued 539 tickets to people using cellphones while driving, an offense that can come with a pricey $300 fine for first-time law-breakers. Hawaii officials are cracking down on the use of hand-held mobile electronic devices …

Thousands of Utahans Nailed for Violating New Seat Belt Law

Thousands of motorists have been cited since a tougher Utah seat belt law went into effect nearly two months ago, state transportation officials said. More than 6,000 drivers have been caught not wearing seat belts since the law was enacted …

Utah Officials Use Playful Highway Signs to Encourage Safe Driving

Utah state transportation officials are employing playful messages on highway digital signs in the latest attempt to encourage safe driving. The Standard-Examiner newspaper in Ogden reported that the signs say things such as “Turn signals: The original text message.” Others …