Highway Safety Laws need Improving

The group Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety concludes that after years of declines highway deaths during the first 9 months of 2012 rose more than 7%, the biggest jump in 37 years. All states plus Washington DC were graded on adopting 15 basic traffic safety laws. Advocates President Jackie Gillan says everyone traveling on highways is at risk. “We have a traffic safety epidemic in every single state.” The national crash price tag is huge, adds Gillan. “The cost of motor vehicle crashes exceeds $230 billion.” Gillan explains the disparity between states enacting these 15 basic traffic safety laws. “The difference is attributed to the lack of political leadership.” That action is costly for everyone, concludes Gillan. “Cost of not acting is affecting families and affecting our state budgets.” Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety say that teens and other inexperienced drivers are at greatest risk driving on U.S. highways.