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Author Topic: 'Roadmap' to State Highway Safety might save U.S. billions Post a Reply Back to Topics
PD

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Message Posted: May 22, 2012 10:46:37 AM

With over 4 million miles of roadway, Americans are afforded exceptional freedom of mobility. Yet the mobility our nation’s highway system provides us also comes with an enormous social cost – 5.4 million crashes annually resulting in almost 33,000 fatalities on average and 2.2 million injuries, at an economic cost to society of more than $230 billion.

Every day 90 people are killed on America’s streets and highways, while more than 6,000 are injured. Unfortunately, too many state legislatures are not taking proactive steps to reduce these numbers by enacting effective and proven highway safety laws. So says the Washington-based Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, a coalition of insurance, consumer, health, safety and law enforcement...

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REPLIES (newest first)
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Ripstor
Sophomore Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Jun 1, 2012 2:12:30 PM

Politics always trumps safety unless the masses rise up and threaten to get involved and vote.
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mrjames1818
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Jun 1, 2012 1:29:42 PM

The US DOT usually withholds Federal Highway funds from states that do not comply with laws that they deem important. So which of these laws are important?
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vjs3
Champion Author Denver

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Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:27:03 AM

One word... Politics.
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Donatelo
Champion Author Dayton

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Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:30:30 AM

ok
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albert2008
Champion Author Winnipeg

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Message Posted: May 26, 2012 9:00:49 AM

time will tell
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: May 26, 2012 7:48:43 AM

introduce mandatory driving school for ANYONE (including written and driving test at the end) who wants a driver's license. Most states allow someone with a car to teach someone with a learner's permit.

We standardize everything else, why not the safety pre-requisites for our roadways? Esp. considering that sadly many of those fatalities or severe injuries are OTR drivers whose life was altered by some 4-wheeler who thought they could just clip in front to get to the exit 1 second sooner.
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Donatelo
Champion Author Dayton

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Message Posted: May 24, 2012 12:38:08 PM

tougher fines might cause people to be more careful.
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albert2008
Champion Author Winnipeg

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Message Posted: May 24, 2012 8:53:12 AM

whatever it takes
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1tallford
Sophomore Author Rhode Island

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Message Posted: May 24, 2012 7:09:40 AM

Is there any proof of effectiveness?
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DrCashFlow
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: May 24, 2012 5:26:31 AM

Yes, enforce the existing laws
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Alfied
Champion Author Riverside

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 4:28:52 PM

Keep it going.
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sparky808
Champion Author Honolulu

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 1:33:05 PM

Thank you for posting.
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txrojo2005
All-Star Author Austin

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 1:21:11 PM

I canot possible handle any more new laws. I suggest that for each new law that is to be passed, then one law must be repealed.
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TAT36
Champion Author Florida

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 1:09:39 PM

We may not be able to afford the crash tax, but can we afford the extra taxes new legislation would bring? Would be nice if the politicians used the taxes that are now collected for maintaining and upgrading the roads were actually used for that purpose instead of funnelling it into the general fund where it is spent on anything and everything. We don't need more laws or taxes we just need to enforce what we have and spend the tax money for
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JXQW
Champion Author Kansas City

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 12:04:42 PM

most of those were caused by diots who were eating, drinking, texting, "sight" seeing, and sleeping ... while driving
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tomok
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 12:04:04 PM

Enacting more laws with so many on the books already will not help. Enforce the ones on the books already and ensure there is No distracted driving (cell phone use, texting, eating, reading, make up application, shaving, etc. etc. etc.).
Vehicles with electronic controls (computers, sensors, cameras, radar, lasers, very accurate GPS) in all vehicles to avoid collisions, stay in lane, maintain correct spacing between moving vehicles, maintain correct speed, possible high density vehicles moving on highways at the same speed and spacing so more traffic flows in less time (i.e. during rush hour), one vehicle knows where the others are to avoid collisions and crashes and detect people on sidewalks, in crosswalks, walking on side of roads and 'see' moving bicycles too. The computer is always 'watching' when the vehicle driver is not. What computer system is installed if the system crashes and the vehicle is left on the side of the road, disabled? That's why there is a human behind the controls for backup if anything happens.
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12/22/2012!
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kishoreCA
Champion Author Ventura

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:49:04 AM

a "crash tax" of more than $750 for every person in the U.S....
oh man...
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rbrowdersr
Champion Author Detroit

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:39:19 AM

Always be aware of dangerous drivers.
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2granny
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:28:46 AM

Learn to drive defensively that will save lives.
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RangerBob58
Champion Author Dayton

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:28:11 AM

Enforce cuurent law before making new ones
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zaq001
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:25:52 AM

Really?
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greenfog
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:22:56 AM

there will always be idiots on the road, that is why you drive defensively.
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jpmorgas
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:22:45 AM

might ?
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PaulaRed
All-Star Author Utah

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:20:50 AM

New way to save someones job - go in reverse.
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Point__man
Champion Author Raleigh

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:20:45 AM

If law enforcement had the time to enforce the current laws, much of these problems would be eliminated. If the courts had the time and will power to strictly prosecute and stop cutting deals for those they like, then we would be in a better place. Not so sure we need nationwide laws as this article implies; but, they would certainly not hurt as long as they were strictly enforced ;)
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GManCo
Champion Author Colorado Springs

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:20:25 AM

More highway deaths and injury than in wars. We don't need bigger government with more laws. People feel invincible and drive that way.
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Diesel_Ram
Champion Author Dallas

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:18:18 AM

Yesterdays News
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Cheepo
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:18:01 AM

We need more regulations and more tax money, NOT!!!!!!!
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MrLuigi
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:17:16 AM

continuing with the old news I see.......come on guys how 'bout something new
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Kaiyne
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:16:07 AM

I like this and obummer had nothing to do with it!
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knutzAL
Champion Author Alabama

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:16:05 AM

Libs looking for headlines with no regard to the real issue.....were free!
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livewire300
Champion Author South Carolina

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:15:23 AM

Great
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Emmamae1
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:14:38 AM

good news
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dieselfiendSC
Champion Author South Carolina

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:13:15 AM

It will never be enough for these types of people, and who made them the experts.
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29louieson
Veteran Author Phoenix

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:13:10 AM

Who paid for this study and how much ?
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pricechecker08
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:11:21 AM

Hope you understand this
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ratboy1968
Champion Author Montreal

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:10:10 AM

ok
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MickDiesel
Champion Author Orange County

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:09:17 AM

Require helmets for all occupants of automobiles.
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malfrog1
Champion Author South Bend

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:07:19 AM

Good information. The states should pay attention. If they enforced the laws, there probably would be a major reduction in the budget deficits.
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dave1745
Champion Author Gary

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:05:57 AM

good
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TRAIN RIDER
Champion Author San Bernardino

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:05:49 AM

Cars are safer today. We have the same number of fatalities that we had years ago with less cars and less mileage driven.
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JWHITE1937
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:04:16 AM

DRIVE smarter and SLOWER
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techque
Champion Author St. Louis

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:03:22 AM

the fascists already have stripped our freedoms in the name of safety or whatever . . . maybe it's time for another american revolution ?
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puinsai808
Champion Author Honolulu

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:00:14 AM

Yawn
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jimmy544
Champion Author Boston

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 11:00:03 AM

yesterday's news.
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91Explorer
All-Star Author Dallas

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 10:59:07 AM

I'm all for saving $s
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peanutsMN
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 10:58:01 AM

Enforce the eat belt law, booster seat law and text/cell phone law and it will make a huge difference. Everybody should be in the green then.
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adgam
Champion Author Orange County

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 10:57:05 AM

kk
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NoSoup4U
Champion Author Raleigh

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 10:55:17 AM

Here's a roadmap for safety: really punish people who text and drive. Distractions for drivers are teh biggest causes of accidents, and moron texters have got to be the number one distraction right now.
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arnerator
Champion Author Seattle

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Message Posted: May 23, 2012 10:54:41 AM

And just how many of those are caused by drunk drivers and texters ??
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