Advocacy group's report card grades states on traffic safety
Washington – Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety has released its 10th annual report card (.pdf file), which grades the performance of all 50 states and the District of Columbia on adopting 15 recommended traffic safety laws.
Ten states enacted one of the recommended safety laws in 2012, compared with 16 states in 2011 and 22 states in 2010. The following laws were put into effect in 2012:
- Booster seat requirements for children 4-7 years old: Arizona
- Optimal cell phone restriction in Graduated Driver Licensing programs for teens: Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin
- Impaired driving: Missouri and Virginia (ignition interlock laws) and Mississippi (child endangerment laws)
- Complete bans on texting while driving: Alabama, Idaho and West Virginia
The report states that 14 states and the District of Columbia were rated “good” for meeting the recommended laws, while six states were rated “dangerously behind.”
The surface transportation funding bill MAP-21 (.pdf file), signed into law July 6, created new grant programs that may encourage future law enactments, an Advocates press release notes.
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