Motor vehicle accidents occur on a daily basis, causing families a great deal of heartache. The increase in traffic deaths nationwide has left many transportation officials concerned. A recent report by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety shows that states with fewer driving safety laws may be more likely to have a higher number of traffic deaths.
The report found that 17 states are far behind in adopting the “optimal” laws necessary to prevent car accidents. Over 230 traffic laws have passed over the last 14 years, but many laws were stalled in 2016. Some believe that there is some resistance to implementing traffic safety laws. This resistance may be the reason that almost 28,000 people were killed in car crashes from January to September 2016, an eight percent increase from 2015.
Negligent drivers are responsible for a large number of accidents. Passing distracted driving laws is especially important, as many people, particularly teens and young adults, are guilty of texting behind the wheel. Making sure that all states have hands-free laws in place and implementing an all-driver texting ban is critical to protecting travelers on the road. Another area of concern is the use of seat belts. Some states require seat belt usage but do not allow officers to pull over drivers that are not wearing a seatbelt. Implementing stricter seat belt laws may save countless lives.
While the report ranks Louisiana as one of the top states for driving, there is still plenty of work to be done to stop more lives from being lost on the roadways. We cannot undo the accidents that have already happened, but we can prevent many from occurring in the future with stricter laws.
Source: WFMY CBS NEWS 2, “Study: Lack of Laws Likely The Reason For Rise In Traffic Deaths,” Jan. 31, 2017
