The 2010 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws
The 2010 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws
January 2010
Click the button below for the webcast of our press conference on January 11, 2010.
This report highlights gaps in Advocates' list of 15 essential and lifesaving highway safety laws and is a call to action for Governors and state legislators. In 2008, motor vehicle crashes caused over 37,000 deaths and over 2.3 million injuries and cost the nation over $230 billion. Passage of the 15 laws identified in Advocates' report will help prevent these tragedies and, at the same time, will save the states billions of dollars in economic costs associated with highway crashes.
(as of January 13, 2010)
As in the past, the Roadmap Report to State Highway Safety Laws reviews and rates 15 basic, essential laws that, if adopted, by every state will lead to a more rapid reduction in deaths and injuries on our nation’s roadways. In the 2010 report, some of the laws included in the list have changed. For the first time, we rate states based on whether they have enacted all-driver text messaging restrictions. In addition, we have added two laws to the graduated driver licensing (GDL) program which are also included in the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act, an important pending federal bill (H.R. 1895) that when enacted will result in many stronger state teen driving laws. Finally, we have dropped a few of the impaired driving laws rated in the past, while placing more emphasis on the adoption of ignition interlock device laws. Fatalities in both areas of teen and impaired driving represent major percentages of total annual traffic crashes.
Motor vehicle crashes are still the leading cause of death for all Americans ages four to 34, killing 102 people every day. By any definition, this is truly a public health epidemic. If each highway safety law is considered a vaccine to inoculate our children, our friends, and our communities against a leading cause of death, every law listed in our Roadmap report should be at the top of each state's legislative agenda in 2010.
Advocates' Key Highway Safety Laws Passed in 2009*
Occupant Protection
Seat Belts: Four states adopted a primary enforcement seat belt law in 2009 (AR, FL, MN, WI). 21 states still need this lifesaving law.
Seat Belts: Four states adopted a primary enforcement seat belt law in 2009 (AR, FL, MN, WI). 21 states still need this lifesaving law.
Booster Seats: Five states adopted booster seat laws (AK, MN, NY, RI and TX). Out of 44 states and the District of Columbia (DC) with booster seat laws, only 26 states and DC have the recommended optimal booster seat law.
*Motorcycle Helmets: Currently, 30 states do not require all-rider helmet law protection. In most of the 20 states and DC with the optimal law, anti-helmet groups battle each year to repeal the all-rider helmet requirement. There were 19 unsuccessful repeal attempts in 2009. No state adopted an all-rider motorcycle helmet law in 2009.
Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)
Eleven states passed teen driving laws (AR, CO, IN, KS, MD, NH, NJ, NY, OK, VA and WV). No state has all of Advocates’ recommended GDL laws.
Eleven states passed teen driving laws (AR, CO, IN, KS, MD, NH, NJ, NY, OK, VA and WV). No state has all of Advocates’ recommended GDL laws.
Impaired Driving
Six states passed impaired driving laws (AR, HI, NY, OK, TN, and UT). 46 states and DC are missing one or more critical impaired driving laws.
Six states passed impaired driving laws (AR, HI, NY, OK, TN, and UT). 46 states and DC are missing one or more critical impaired driving laws.
Distracted Driving - All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction
Ten states adopted all-driver text messaging restrictions (AR, CO, IL, MD, NH, NC, OR, RI, TN, and UT). 36 states still need an all-driver text messaging restriction.
Ten states adopted all-driver text messaging restrictions (AR, CO, IL, MD, NH, NC, OR, RI, TN, and UT). 36 states still need an all-driver text messaging restriction.
Please Read the Full Report to Find Out More About:
Advocates' Grading Criteria
Complete State Listing of Existing Highway Safety Laws
Definitions of the 15 Lifesaving Laws
In-Depth State-by-State Highway Safety Information
Click here for the press kit from the press conference on January 11, 2010.
Click here for last year's report: The 2009 Roadmap to Highway Safety Laws.
For more information on this report, please contact Jaime Lotter at jlotter@saferoads.org or (202) 408-1711 ext. 27.
