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Older Drivers
Senior drivers
JOURNAL EDITORIAL STAFF
Published: August 30, 2009
The recent death of a Raleigh 6-year-old after she stepped off a school bus has rekindled the debate over North Carolina's laws regarding senior drivers.
The child died after being hit by a car driven by an 83-year-old woman who says she didn't see any of the warning signals deployed by the school-bus driver. Witnesses say lights were flashing and the caution arm was extended.
Many states implement extra precautions for older drivers. Some require a vision or road test, some require seniors to renew their licenses in person rather than online or by mail. In the District of Columbia, drivers 70 and older cannot renew their licenses without a note from their doctors saying they are physically up to the task.
North Carolina has only one such safety measure, and it is mild. Drivers 54 and older can renew their licenses for only five years, not eight, as for those under 54. But those 60 or older also don't have to parallel park when taking the driver's test.
Restrictions tied to a driver's age are controversial because safety indicators point in different directions.
There were 19 million U.S. senior drivers in 2005, according to the Elder Law Journal. There will be 30 million by 2020. Those 75 or older have a 37 percent higher chance of having a crash. When seniors are in accidents, they are more prone to serious injury because of the frailties of older age. Also, seniors often are on medications that are known to make driving more difficult.
On the other hand, a 2008 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that seniors are driving a lot less than they used to and that their national injury and death rates were down significantly from 1997 to 2006.
When statistics point in both directions, it is best to err on the side of safety. That's what North Carolina should do. Legislation before the General Assembly this year would have added road tests for those over 85 and shortened renewal periods for those over 75. Rep. Bill McGee of Forsyth County led a group that weakened that legislation when it came before a House committee in April.
But McGee now says there should be a renewed push to address the issue, and we agree. North Carolina was a leader in toughening licensing requirements for young people. It paid off in reduced accidents, injuries and fatalities.
This state can also begin to lead on safety for older drivers. The vision and road tests are a good idea and should become more frequent as drivers grow older.
Some seniors will complain, but those who think about it will recognize that good sense should prevail. We're sure the 83-year-old who was behind the wheel in Raleigh would give just about anything to undo what she did.
Driving: what's too young? What's too old?
Suburban Journals - Town and Country,MO,USA
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 28 percent of all traffic crashes involving seniors occurred when the driver was attempting ...
Impaired/Distracted Driving
Sobriety Checkpoints Yield Millions In Towing Fees, Fines
Sobriety checkpoints in some cities have increasingly become profitable operations that are far more likely to seize cars from unlicensed and often illegal immigrant motorists, than to catch drunken drivers, reports the New York Times. The newspaper quotes the Investigative Reporting Program at the University of California Berkeley as finding that last year, impoundments at checkpoints generated an estimated $40 million in towing fees and police fines in California. Cities typically divide the revenue with towing companies.
What is an economic benefit for strapped cities comes at a cost to taxpayers. In the last fiscal year, $30 million was authorized to pay overtime for officers working on the drunken-driving crackdowns. That money came from federal taxpayers through the California Office of Traffic Safety. While the checkpoints do catch some drunken drivers, the police manning them are also leaving sober but unlicensed drivers on the side of the road, with no hope of regaining their vehicle for at least a month. Perry Shusta of the California Tow Truck Association said two-thirds of the impounded vehicles were never reclaimed and were sold at lien sales.
Read More: New York Times
Under 21? Hold that text reply
Columbia Daily Tribune
A new Missouri law has gone into effect making it a crime for anyone younger than 21 to text while driving. The state traffic ticket comes with a $200 fine. ...
Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest' Crackdown Starts ...
SYS-CON Media
No excuses," said Romell Cooks, Regional Administrator, NHTSA Region 7. "Officers will be out in force to get more drunk drivers off the road -- and save ...
Op-Ed: Anti-DUI Devices Effective But Rarely Used
Duke professor Philip Cook and a collaborator write in the New York Times that while ignition- interlock devices for preventing drunk driving are "highly effective," they are rarely installed in the cars of people who have been known to drive while intoxicated. Cook and Maeve E. Gearing write, "People driving while intoxicated still cause about 13,000 deaths a year in the United States. And of the 1.4 million arrests made, one-third involve repeat offenders. The greatest potential of ignition interlocks is to reduce this recidivism."
They continue, "Eight states now mandate that interlocks be installed in the cars of all drunk- driving offenders, and another 25 require them for repeat offenders or those whose blood- alcohol content was far higher than the legal limit. Still other states give judges the option to order interlock installation. But implementation of these measures has lagged. Judges often fail to order installation, even when the law requires it. Offenders routinely ignore orders to get interlocks. And in areas where the installation is voluntary, few offenders install them. In 2007, only about 146,000 interlocks were in use. () The ignition interlock could be an extraordinarily effective way to prevent drunk- driving recidivism. But it can save lives only if we make sure people use it."
New York Times
Sheriff Hands Out Big Thank-Yous
WCHS - charleston,WV,USA
The Kanawha County Sheriff's Department took time out Tuesday to honor nearly 40 stores in the county that refused to sell alcohol to underage drinkers. ...
AAA says using cell phone in any way while driving is a danger
News Herald - Fort Washington,PA,USA
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety published a recent study that revealed 68 percent of motorists who use cell phones while driving believe it is safer ...
Drunken driving goes up during holidays
Fox 28 - South Bend,IN,USA
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Wednesday that nearly 40% of fatal crashes in the last two weeks of December involve drunken ...
Drunken driving goes up during holidays
The Associated Press
Nearly 40 percent of fatal crashes in the last two weeks of December involved drunken drivers, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ...
America's Top 10 Alcohol-Drinking Cities--and 10 Most Sober Cities
U.S. News & World Report - Washington,DC,USA
... organization for addiction treatment, helps explain some disturbing statistics reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ...
New Law Means No DWT: Driving While Texting
WCCO - Minneapolis,MN,USA
"You're not able to read your email, send an email, sort through your messages," said Cheri Marti, Director of Traffic Safety. "It really is no reading or ...
Texting, talking on cell phone are contributing factors in many ...
an accident. Many drivers will deny cell phone use when asked, he said. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that cell phone use contributes to 25 percent of all vehicle crashes today, ...
Legislators have repeat drunken driving offenders in their sights
Chillicothe Gazette - Chillicothe,OH,USA
As part of this campaign, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), the Division of EMS and the State Highway Patrol have teamed up to remind motorists that ...
Drowsy Drivers Make Holiday Weekend Among the Most Dangerous
By admin
Caffeine in liquid form takes about 20 to 30 minutes to take effect, so consume it before you take a short nap to get the benefits of both. More information. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has more about ...
When dozing turns deadly
Times Daily (subscription) - Florence,AL,USA
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration blames drowsy driving on at least 100000 crashes a year, resulting in more than 1550 deaths. ...
Study: 9% of us admit to driving drunk
USA Today - USA
"Drivers see traffic laws as guidance or suggestions, not as a law," says Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), ...
Intoxicated Drivers Face High-tech Lockouts
from USA Today
High-tech efforts against drunken driving are intensifying around the U.S. as more states adopt or consider laws requiring first-time offenders to equip their vehicles with devices that prevent operation by intoxicated people. Federal highway officials and safe driving advocates, noting that crash deaths involving drunken drivers have remained about 32 percent of all fatalities for the past decade, say the devices are the best way to cut the toll. State legislators are listening.
Technology driving motorists to distraction
By info@usernomics.com (Usernomics)
Unlike the drug approval process governed by the Food and Drug Administration, many car systems are sold independently of the vehicles, complicating the ability of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to monitor their ...
New Jersey Begins Tighter Phone Rules for Drivers
New York Times - United States
Between July 2004 and last month, more than 49700 cellphone tickets were issued, according to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.
Digest of Impaired Driving and Selected Beverage Control Laws
NHTSA has posted the 24th Edition of its Digest of Impaired Driving and Selected Beverage Control Laws. This volume contains an extensive compilation of these laws from all States. It is current as of January 2007. Please note the length of the document before you print it, since it is a whopping 630 pages! The document is available here.
Publications Relating to BAC Test Refusals
Three publications have recently been released by NHTSA that relate to BAC Test Refusals. The first publication is a Final Report, containing Case Studies on the Use of Warrants for Breath Test Refusals. The second publication is a Traffic Tech summarizing the Final Report. The third publication is a Research Note on Breath Test Refusals. All of these documents are available on . Click here for the Final Report; for the Traffic Tech, see attached; for the Research Note, click here.
The Dangers of Drowsy Driving
Layover.com - Akron,PA,USA
In a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)/AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety survey among police officers, nearly 90 percent of the ...
New Data Shows Drunk Driving Deaths Spike During Holidays
Occupational Health Safety, TX - Dec 18, 2007
US Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters today announced that new federal traffic safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that the daily death toll from drunk driving crashes during the Christmas and New Year's holiday periods is significantly more than for the rest of the year.
http://www.ohsonline.com/articles/56916/
New Model DUI Law
NHTSA had developed a new ""Model Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Law."" This model law, which was developed in cooperation with the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances (NCUTLO), amends an earlier version of the model law (the Millennium DUI Law), to be consistent with the provisions of SAFETEA-LU and to reflect current priorities. In particular, it makes changes to reflect revised Section 410 grant criteria that establish minimum penalties for High BAC offenders and provide for installation of ignition interlock devices under State administrative license revocation (ALR) and High BAC laws. The Model Law is available through the following link - http://www.ncutlo.org/occprotect02.html 2007 DUI Model Law http://www.ncutlo.org/2007dui.htm.
NCSL Article on Ignition Interlocks
The December issue of State Legislatures, a magazine published by the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), features a cover story on impaired driving and focuses specifically on the use of ignition interlocks. To view the article, go to http://ncsl.org/magazine/weekly/SLWeeklyDec_Ignition.htm.
Seatbelts
Car Seat Safety
Thursday September 10, 2009
September 12 to 18 2009 is National Child Passenger Safety Week, a good time to make sure you're buckling up the kids correctly-- it's all too easy to make an error, according to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) a few years back.
The NHTSA found that most child restraints are used incorrectly: 86 percent of rear-facing infant seats, 88 percent of forward-facing toddler seats, and 85 percent of safety belts weren't getting clicked-in right!
Find an Inspection Site near you, and technicians will make sure you're correctly using your child's safety seat.
There's also the matter of booster seats: kids between 35 and 80 lbs. should be using booster seats, so that the shoulder belt fits right. But "as many as 45% of children 4 to 7 in the United States were not being properly protected (34% in seat belts, and 11% unrestrained.)*"
And note to parents of bigger kids using seat belts: don't let them flip away the shoulder strap! The strap won't do its job during a crash, and can even cause injury.
Eyes peeled for seat belt safety
Taylor Daily Press
While the campaign is targeted at seat belt violations, officers will also cite heavily for other traffic safety violations such as running stop signs or ...
National Child Passenger Safety Week Sept. 12-18
Moberly Monitor Index
The Missouri State Highway Patrol joins the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Ad Council, and other safety advocates to ...
Air Bags-Seat Belts Cut Injuries, Deaths, Costs
U.S. News & World Report - Washington,DC, USA
... in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has more about traffic safety.
Safety week to stress importance of seat belts, child safety seats
Speed
Police Review High Speed Chase Tactics
from the Portland Press Herald
Scarborough, Maine, police are reviewing the chase of a motorcyclist that reached speeds of 100 mph through four communities to determine whether it complied with the department's policy. Police have become much more conservative over the years in deciding when to initiate a pursuit and when to call it off, because high speed chases can be dangerous. More
Grand jury criticizes Bradford sheriff on pursuit policy after ...
In a 17-minute video of the chase and subsequent crash, at least seven law enforcement vehicles are seen pursuing Estes.The video was provided to The Sun by the State Attorneys Office in response to a public records.
Motorcycles
Motorcycle riders track deadly trend
Study: Rise in fatalities follows repeal of helmet law
Texas bikers' freedom to ride the open road without a helmet has resulted in a sharp increase in deadly crashes, according to a new study...
Motorcycle ownership up in Minnesota, and so is carnage on the roads
Minneapolis Star Tribune - Minneapolis,MN,USA
"Motorists need to be prepared for and aware of motorcycle riders," said Cheri Marti, director of the state's Office of Traffic Safety. ...
Motorcycles booming, but rider error takes deadly toll
Seattle Post Intelligencer - USA
Nationally, motorcycle deaths in 2007 increased for the 10th straight year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, ...
Motorcycle safety is everyone's responsibility
Inside NoVA - Prince William,VA,USA
Currently, motorcycle fatalities are the nation's greatest highway traffic safety challenge. Motorcycle registration has jumped 63 percent between 1997 and ...
Motorcycle deaths up, traffic fatalities down
Press of Atlantic City - Atlantic City,NJ,USA
During the same time period in 2007, there were nine motorcycle fatalities, said Teresa Thomas, program manager for the South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance ...
Motorcycle Deaths Increasing in Washington
HeraldNet - Everett,WA,USA
The rise in motorcycle fatalities bucks the declining rate of traffic deaths in Washington state, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. ...
National Motorcycle Safety Month: Safety is a two-way street
Lake County News - Lakeport,CA,USA
Per vehicle mile traveled, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that in 2006, motorcyclists were about 35 times more likely than ...
Motorcycle Safety
By Stephanie
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers motorcycle safety information, plus has some sobering stats on motorcycle-related deaths. For example, motorcycle fatalities ...
House considers changing helmet law
UM Maneater - Columbia,MO,USA
In 2005, there were 4576 fatalities and in 2006, that number rose to 4810 fatalities, stated the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Web site. ...
Repeal Of Helmet Laws Sees Increase Of Fatality Rates, MU Study Finds
By admin
""The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration promotes the effectiveness of helmet laws for getting motorcyclists to wear helmets, but there is no strategy for encouraging states to maintain or adopt universal coverage laws. ...
Harley Davidson Motorcycle Recall
By Dave Dragon
"Inconsistencies in the routing of the brake lines can cause abrasion of the lines and hoses," according to the National Highway Traffic Safety administration. " This condition has caused brake fluid leaks," according to NHTSA. ...
Trend shows deaths up among older motorcyclists
Bloomington Pantagraph - IL, USA
In 2004, it was 46 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The state tracks age statistics, and some safety information
NHTSA Report on Impaired Motorcycle Crash Risk
NHTSA recently released a two volume report, entitled "Methodology for Determining Motorcycle Operator Crash Risk and Alcohol Impairment." Volume I contains a Synthesis; Volume II contains a Literature Review. For a summary of the report, click here. The full report is available on NHTSA's website, click here
General
The eyes have it
High-tech tools add to anti-crime arsenal.
Mike Southard of Sure Scan Technology stands next to a SecuriMetrics Pier 2.3 iris scanner after having his eye scanned by Randy Smith of L-1 Identity Solutions. The new scanner is being funded as part of a $200,000 technology grant to the Boone County Sheriff's Department and will be used for identification of suspects...
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Who is David Strickland?
(NHTSA), President Barack Obama turned to congressional aide David L. Strickland, whose announcement did not prompt any concerns from Republicans or ...
Ford's MyKey to safety for teen drivers controls speed, stereo
By Sharon Silke Carty, USA TODAY
DEARBORN, Mich. — Andrew Sarkisian says he finds inspiration in other people's lives, but raising two teenage girls may be more inspiration than he's willing to admit.
Sarkisian, safety manager at Ford Motor, is considered the father of MyKey, a new technology to help parents control some of their teen drivers' behaviors. Ford is rolling it out on several models this year...
Top Highway Safety Awards to be Presented in Georgia
Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey & Wisconsin Home to Winners
Washington, DC and Savannah, GA -- The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) will present its national highway safety awards during its Annual Meeting in Savannah. GHSA represents state highway safety agencies across the country. The James J. Howard Highway Safety Trailblazer Award will be presented on Wednesday, September 2. All other awards will be presented at a luncheon on Monday, August 31.
The Association's highest honor, the James J. Howard Highway Safety Trailblazer Award goes to Illinois State Senator John J. Cullerton of Chicago. Senator Cullerton serves as President of the Illinois State Senate. The Howard Award is named after the late Congressman Jim Howard (D-NJ), who was known as "Mr. Highway Safety" for his work on many highway safety bills from the 1960's through the 1980's.
Throughout his 30-year career in the Illinois State Legislature, Senator Cullerton has amassed a traffic safety record likely surpassing that of any state legislator in the nation. He has led the effort in the state to enact safety legislation on a variety of issues, including: child passenger safety; primary seat belt use; mandatory motorcycle helmet use; .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC); graduated licensing; and alcohol interlock laws.
Among Senator Cullerton's many legislative achievements, Illinois' primary seat belt law has perhaps been the most significant. Senator Cullerton sponsored the bill and personally advocated for it across the state. At the time, a large majority of states did not have this lifesaving law. Largely because of the Senator's dedication and leadership, a primary bill was passed and signed into law in 2003. Since the law's enactment, the state's seat belt use rate has increased by 14 percent to more than 90 percent.
GHSA will present the Kathryn J.R. Swanson Public Service Award posthumously to Kevin E. Quinlan, who spent 35 years of exemplary service with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. Mr. Quinlan was a dedicated public servant who diligently worked to improve the safety of our roadways.
Mr. Quinlan was a tremendous resource to state legislators, highway safety offices and advocates throughout the nation. He frequently testified on a host of safety issues and worked tirelessly for the advancement of the safety agenda. The focus of his career was saving lives. It was his job, his mission and his passion. He was distinguished by his length of service, his breadth of contributions on a multitude of safety issues, and the gregarious, passionate and tireless manner in which he served.
GHSA is also presenting five Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Awards for notable achievements in highway safety in calendar year 2008. These Awards are named in honor of former GHSA Chairman and Californian Peter K. O'Rourke. Winners are:
Illinois Operation Teen Safe Driving Program, recognizing the Illinois Department of Transportation's Division of Traffic Safety for its unique, statewide teen driving program. This program has reached more than 99,000 teens and translated into lives being saved. Teen fatalities decreased from 155 in 2007 to 93 in 2008. The state credits this program, along with a new GDL law, for the dramatic drop in teen deaths. The program was supported by the Ford Driving Skills for Life program and The Allstate Foundation.
Indiana Supreme Court, Division of State Court Administration Judicial Technology & Automation Committee, for the development of a uniform, electronic ticketing system to enhance the efficiency and consistency of the traffic ticketing process in Indiana. Prior to this new system, Indiana's 92 counties struggled with paper tickets that did not provide any standardization or uniformity. Too often, important information was not collected. With the new system, efficiency is greatly enhanced, and police productivity has increased substantially.
Maryland's Task Force to Combat Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol, for its efforts in assessing the status and progress of statewide efforts to combat impaired driving, identifying deficiencies, proposing solutions, and submitting a comprehensive report to the Governor and General Assembly. Forty-two proposed recommendations were submitted, which included improvements in engineering, enforcement, intervention, treatment, education and the courts. Seven legislative initiatives were included. Four of these have already become law. This effort is a model for states that want to review their progress in addressing impaired driving.
New Jersey Teen Driver Study Commission, for its work in assessing the state of teen driving in New Jersey and making recommendations to reduce the number of teen driver crashes and fatalities. The Commission's final report included 47 recommendations, many of which were new and innovative. The Commission has had a substantial impact: already, new laws have been passed requiring a teen driver decal, lowering the curfew for provisional drivers to 11 p.m., and limiting the number of teen passengers to one unless a parent or guardian is present. This effort is a model for other states that want to comprehensively address the teen driving issue.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, for its year-long series, "Wasted in Wisconsin." Forty-nine journalists traveled the state and told the story of the abuse of alcohol and the profoundly tragic impact it has had on Wisconsin residents. The series generated substantial discussion throughout the state. While it is too early to assess legislative impact, more than 30 different legislative enhancements have been proposed. In today's economy, amid the decline of print journalism, it is rare for a newspaper to devote so much space to the issue of drunk driving - particularly a year-long series. "Wasted in Wisconsin" was a brave endeavor that will translate into lives being saved.
More detailed descriptions about the winners are online at www.ghsa.org. To request a photo of a winner from the August 31 presentations, contact Jonathan Adkins, jadkins@ghsa.org or 202-669-9746.
An agenda of the GHSA Annual Meeting is available online at:
http://www.ghsa.org/html/meetings/annual/2009/agenda_details.html.
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)® is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy and enhance program management. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202-789-0942 or visit www.ghsa.org.
Officer killed as car hits work site
Boston Globe
"We've lost truly a guardian of our safety. People like that are not commonplace.'' Police charged the driver of the pickup, Ronald Gale of Weymouth, ...
Safety tips from NHTSA to prevent hyperthermia include:
- Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle.
- Do not let your children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them that a vehicle is not a play area.
- Never leave infants or children in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are partially open or with the engine running and the air conditioning on.
- Make a habit of looking in the vehicle - front and back - before locking the door and walking away.
- If you are bringing your child to daycare, and normally it's your spouse or partner who brings them, have your spouse or partner call you to make sure everything went according to plan.
- Ask your childcare provider to call you if your child does not show up for childcare. Do things to remind yourself that a child is in the vehicle, such as:
- Writing yourself a note and putting the note where you will see it when you leave the vehicle;
- Placing your purse, briefcase or something else you need in the back seat so that you will have to check the back seat when you leave the vehicle; or
- Keeping an object in the car seat, such as a stuffed toy. When the child is buckled in, place the object where the driver will notice it when he or she is leaving the vehicle.
- Always lock vehicle doors and trunks and keep keys out of children's reach. If a child is missing, check the vehicle first, including the trunk.
- If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call the police. If they are in distress due to heat, get them out as quickly as possible. Warning signs may include: red, hot, and moist or dry skin, no sweating, a strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse, nausea or acting strangely. Cool the child rapidly. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
For additional safety tips and information on how to keep kids safe in and around vehicles visit www.nhtsa.gov/KeepingKidsSafe.
Minicars at risk in crashes
The Detroit News - Detroit,MI,USA
Former National Highway Traffic Safety Administration David Kelly said small car safety was an issue, but questioned this test. "Compatibility between small ...
Highway work-zone safety should be first priority
Frederick News Post (subscription) - Frederick,MD,USA
Ten people died in Maryland work zones in 2007, and crashes claimed 835 lives nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ...
The Risk of Reverse
New York Times - United States
According to the first study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the issue, 221 people — more than four each week — were ...
Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety
Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS) is a law enforcement operational model supported by a partnership between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
DDACTS integrates location-based crime and traffic data to establish effective and efficient methods for deploying law enforcement and other resources. Using geomapping to identify areas that have high incidences of crime and crashes, DDACTS uses traffic enforcement strategies that play a dual role in fighting crime and reducing crashes and traffic violations. Drawing on the deterrent of highly visible traffic enforcement and the knowledge that crimes often involve the use of motor vehicles, the goal of DDACTS is to reduce the incidence of crime, crashes, and traffic violations across the country.
Traffic Deaths Are On Decline Across USA
By hareyan
Road deaths declined in 40 states and the District of Columbia in 2008, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association survey released Wednesday. The average decline was 10.7 percent, according to the survey of 44 ..
01/07/2009 - Traffic deaths down to new low - STLtoday.com
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Highway Administration. yesterday's most emailed. 1. Joe Bonwich's top 10 new restaurants of 2008. 2. Dad got text message before ATV crashed with son Jackson in ...
Traffic Safety Center Newsletter Fall-Winter 2008, Volume 5, No. 1
Traffic safety research at U. California Berkeley: As part of an effort to set long-range safety priorities, three years ago, the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety asked top safety officials from the Federal Highway Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration how to best advance the cause of improving traffic safety…
highway fatality statistics, National Highway Traffic Safety
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) officials say advancements in safety technology that prevents rollovers, an increase in seatbelt usage, major transportation safety program reforms and more drunk driving awareness ...
Traffic fatalities driven down by high gas prices
WTTE - Columbus,OH,USA
WASHINGTON (AP) -- New research suggests the US traffic death toll may be headed to the lowest levels since John F. Kennedy moved into the White House. ...
Injury-free cars could be within reach, says Volvo
New York Daily News - New York,NY,USA
By JOSH MAX More than 42000 people perished in car accidents in the US in 2006, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). ...
Cracking Down on Illegal Drivers
How many unlicensed drivers are on our roads? No one knows for sure, but the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles recently estimated that there were "tens of thousands" of unlicensed drivers in that state alone. And just last year…
If lights are flashing, plan to move aside
Boston Globe - United States
According to Move Over America, a partnership between the National Safety Commission, the National Sheriffs' Association, and the National Association of ...
Mechanics, police say gas theft changing with times
The Associated Press -
Tank puncturing has yet to reach the radar screens of law enforcement organizations such as the National Sheriffs' Association, or the Automotive Service ...
Young drivers
Spartanburg Herald Journal (subscription) - Spartanburg,SC,USA
And figures released last week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration places teenage drivers in a category for higher risk of being killed in ...
Crash stats bolster push to restrict teen drivers
Pioneer Press - St. Paul,MN,USA
The important statistics for parents to keep in mind, state and national traffic safety experts say, are the crash rate for teen drivers and the percentage ...
The AAA Foundation's ""Safety Culture"" research initiative is working to build a stronger culture of traffic safety where individuals take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others. As part of this initiative the AAA Foundation today released the results of its first-annual survey of the driving public, the 2008 Traffic Safety Culture Index (TSC Index). The purpose of the annual TSC Index is to investigate the public's traffic-safety-related knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and experiences, ultimately to create a baseline measure of traffic safety culture in the U.S. and to monitor its change over time. The TSC Index will also help guide AAA Foundation research, public outreach, and foster dialogue about traffic safety and how to improve it.
Here are links to the information released today:
News release
Fact sheet
Report
New York Times - United States
The program was based on research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Institute on Aging that showed that older drivers ...
The technology truckers love to hate
Computerworld - Framingham,MA,USA
Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen and a former administrator at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, says the problem of falsifying ...
Sheriffs unhappy about proposed Highway Patrol cuts
Rapid City Journal - Rapid City,SD,USA
By Steve Miller, Journal staff Thursday, February 28, 2008 Several West River sheriffs say they will have to pick up more law enforcement work on major ...
Traffic Safety Legislative Fact Sheets (2008)
Each year, NHTSA produces a series of Traffic Safety Legislative Fact Sheets that contain research and information about laws that may be considered for enactment in States across the country. Some of the impaired driving laws that have been covered in NHTSA fact sheets include Administrative License Revocation, Repeat Intoxicated Drivers, Vehicle and License Plate Sanctions, Sobriety Checkpoints, Open Container Laws, High BAC Laws, BAC Test Refusal Laws and Alcohol Exclusion Laws. For a list of all 2008 Traffic Safety Legislative Fact Sheets, click here, under the heading Articles, click on ""Traffic Safety Legislative Fact Sheets.""
2006 Traffic Safety Facts Annual Report
The Final Edition of the 2006 Traffic Safety Facts annual report is now available. It can be accessed on the NCSA Home Page through NCSA Publications and Customized Data Requests (CATS) or directly by clicking here. The Final Edition contains updates to exposure data (vehicle miles traveled, licensed drivers, and registered vehicles) and fatality rates.
Third Edition of Countermeasures That Work (2008)
Countermeasures That Work (CTW) is a NHTSA publication that is designed to assist State Highway Safety Offices in selecting effective, science-based traffic safety countermeasures for major highway safety problem areas, such as impaired driving. CTW was first published in 2005 and was updated in 2007. NHTSA has posted the Third Edition of Countermeasures That Work (2008) on its website. It is available here.
New Auto Safety Legislation Aims to Protect Children
Consumer Affairs - USA
The legislation requires federal regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to write rules requiring that all power windows ...
Congress clears bill to cut auto-related deaths
Reuters - USA
The measure also requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to study potential safety hazards associated with power windows, ...
Each State to Receive Report Card Spotlighting Deadly Gaps in 15 Essential Highway Safety
PR Newswire (press release) - New York,NY,USA
Each Governor and state legislature will be sent their report card pinpointing dangerous gaps in their traffic safety laws that should be closed during this ...
ODOT: Blinking signs put road safety in a new light
Toledo Blade - Toledo,OH,USA
But no Toledo locations were identified during that study, and Jason Yeray, the district traffic safety engineer at ODOT's Bowling Green office, ...
Resources
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety is an alliance of consumer, health, and safety groups and insurance companies and agents that seeks to educate the public, the press, and policymakers about the need for improved highway and auto safety regulations. This site offers information on state laws, legislative alerts, polls on highway safety issues, and other reports.
The DOT Auto Safety Hotline specializes in gathering information about safety problems in motor vehicles and equipment. The Hotline can be dialed toll free at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). In operation since 1975, the Hotline provides information about motor vehicle safety, child safety seats, vehicle importation and certification, and airbags. Consumers may also speak with a consultant to file reports on vehicle safety defects and provide recall and other valuable information.
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), part of the US Department of Transportation, oversees federal funding for the construction and improvement of highways, urban and rural roads, and bridges. In the area of safety, FHWA conducts research on safety practices and technologies for all phases of highway design and operations, focusing on ways to improve intersections, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, run-off-road safety, and speed management.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), formerly part of the Federal Highway Administration, oversees commercial motor vehicle safety. FMCSA activities include enforcement of safety regulations, targeting high-risk carriers and commercial motor vehicle drivers, improving safety information systems and commercial motor vehicle technologies, strengthening commercial motor vehicle equipment and operating standards, and increasing safety awareness.
The Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) at UNC conducts interdisciplinary research aimed at reducing deaths, injuries, and related societal costs of roadway crashes. Research examines motor vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian crashes, taking into account human, vehicular, roadway and environmental factors. Center researchers investigate issues that may affect future legislation and policies, including: driver distraction, graduated driver licensing, the role of alcohol in crashes, elderly driving issues, occupant restraint use, roadway design, commercial vehicle safety and enforcement, as well as pedestrian and bicycle safety.
The Injury Prevention Web (IPW) is an advertising-free site supported by the Center for Injury Prevention Policy and Practice at San Diego State University. It contains data on injury occurrence in each of the 50 US states, prevention information, policy recommendations, and a resources section with links to government and nonprofit sites worldwide. The IPW links to groups with a focus on a large variety of fields: codes and standards, education, ergonomics, fire prevention, industrial safety, interior design, legislation and litigation, public health, traffic safety, product safety, disasters, and more.
Insurance Research Council (IRC) is an independent, nonprofit research organization supported by property and casualty insurance companies and associations. IRC conducts research to assist insurers and the general public in reaching sound decisions on legislative and regulatory issues.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), part of the US Department of Transportation, administers federal laws relating to motor vehicle and highway safety. Available on this site are crash statistics, vehicle safety ratings from the agency's frontal and side impact test programs, vehicle safety regulations and standards, recall announcements, and a wide range of other consumer and technical information.
Network of Employers for Traffic Safety The NETS mission is to reduce traffic crashes involving America's workers and their families by helping employers implement well-developed policies, dynamic workplace programs, and compelling community activities related to traffic safety. Government and industry leaders created the organization to address the human and economic impact of traffic crashes on the nation's workforce as well as their families and communities.
Partners for Child Passenger Safety (PCPS), a research partnership between The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance Companies, is the country's largest research project devoted to children in crashes. Site includes PCPS research findings, educational resource materials, and multimedia information for parents/caregivers on the basics of child passenger safety.
Roadway Safety Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing highway deaths and injuries by improving the physical design and condition of roadways.
US Department of Transportation (DOT) is the federal agency responsible for overall national policy for all transportation modes (air, rail, marine, and road). DOT agencies with an interest in highway safety include the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Highway Administration, and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Feds Pan Systems To Prevent Cars Backing Over Kids Chicago Sun-Times - United States
... are based on police reports, media reports and tips from lawyers, as well as discussions with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Program Nets National Recognition Albany Herald On-line - Albany,GA,USA
According to the NSA's Web site, the award is part of the larger Traffic Unit Safety Award which was developed to "recognize traffic enforcement units that ... NHTSA has developed a Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) video to give information about the program and how to start and/or improve existing programs.
The video can be found at any of the following links:
SID
NHTSA Impaired Driving
NHTSA Enforcement & Justice Service
Traffic Safety Newsletter
Related Articles and Documents (Downloads)
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