2014 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws

Lives saved. Injuries prevented. Costs contained. What a difference 25 years makes.
2014 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws
11 ANNUAL ROADMAP OF STATE HIGHWAY SAFETY LAWS

TH
A 25 YEAR RETROSPECT: LIVES SAVED, INJURIES PREVENTED, COSTS CONTAINED BUT MORE WORK STILL TO BE DONE
This year, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) reaches a major milestone as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary of advancing state and federal safety laws and programs. Since our founding in 1989 by consumer, health and safety and insurance industry leaders, our coalition has successfully fought for safer cars, safer drivers and safer roads. Advocates represents a true success story of uncommon partners who have come together to pursue a common lifesaving goal. As we look back on the safety advances achieved during the last quarter century, it is an excellent opportunity to look forward at the unfinished safety agenda. After six consecutive years of declining fatalities on our nations roads, traffic deaths increased in 2012 to 33,561 fatalities. This alarming shift is a stark reminder that states must continue to pass and enforce strong, comprehensive highway safety laws. The 2014 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws provides a guide for state elected officials on what laws their states are lacking and where action is needed. The critical importance of these laws is clear. Looking back to 1989, over 45,000 people were killed and more than three million were injured in motor vehicle crashes. Vehicles lacked essential safety features like air bags and states lacked effective traffic safety laws. For example, 25 years ago only six states had a primary enforcement seat belt law. Today, 33 states and DC have a primary enforcement seat belt law covering front seat passengers, and in 2012, more than 12,000 lives were saved because of seat belt use. The progress we have made in achieving a 26 percent fatality reduction from 1989 shows that when states take action to enact and enforce optimal traffic safety laws, lives are saved, injuries are reduced, and costs to society are contained. Despite the significant progress made over the past 25 years, there is still not a single state that has all of Advocates 15 recommended safety laws. For the past 11 years, the Roadmap Reports have highlighted the dangerous safety gaps that exist in state laws. Yet, some state legislatures still are not passing laws that improve public safety, and even worse, some are passing laws to rollback safety. During the 2013 legislative session, 19 bills to repeal existing all-rider motorcycle helmet laws were introduced in 11 states while only three state legislatures introduced all -rider helmet bills. Meanwhile, motorcycle rider deaths continue to climb to record numbers and studies continue to show that without laws, helmet use is low and fatalities are high -- there were 10 times as many unhelmeted motorcyclist fatalities in states without all-rider helmet laws as in states with all-rider helmet laws. Looking to the future Advocates will continue to vigorously work with elected leaders, health and safety groups, crash victims and survivors, and insurers to promote passage of these lifesaving laws. Twenty five years later our nations highway death and injury toll is still unnecessary and state inaction is still unacceptable.
Jacqueline S. Gillan, President
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Glossary of Acronyms ................................................................................................................. 4 Urgent Action Needed to Improve Highway Safety ...................................................................... 5 25 Years of Advocates in Action.. 6 Safety Laws Reduce Crash Costs ................................................................................................. 7 Legislative Activity in 2013 ......................................................................................................... 8 Key Things to Know about this Report ........................................................................................ 9 Whats New in this Years Report...10 Definitions of 15 Lifesaving Laws ............................................................................................. 11 Occupant Protection ................................................................................................................ 13 Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Laws ......................................................................................... 14 All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Laws ........................................................................................... 16 Occupant Protection Laws Rating Chart ..................................................................................... 18 Child Passenger Safety ............................................................................................................ 19 Booster Seat Laws ..................................................................................................................... 20 Booster Seat Laws Rating Chart................................................................................................. 21 Teen Driving: Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program ................................................ 22 Teen Driving Laws .................................................................................................................... 23 Teen Driving Laws Rating Chart................................................................................................ 25 Impaired Driving ..................................................................................................................... 26 Impaired Driving Laws .............................................................................................................. 27 Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Laws ......................................................................................... 28 Child Endangerment Laws ......................................................................................................... 29 Open Container Laws That Meet Federal Requirements ............................................................. 29 Impaired Driving Laws Rating Chart ......................................................................................... 30 Distracted Driving: All-Driver Text Messaging Restrictions ................................................. 31 All-Driver Text Messaging Restrictions ..................................................................................... 32 All-Driver Text Messaging Restrictions Rating Chart ............................................................. 33 Overall State Ratings Based on Total Number of Laws ......................................................... 34 Overall State Ratings Chart ........................................................................................................ 35 States at a Glance....................................................................................................................... 38 Source Information .................................................................................................................. 50 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. 55 About Advocates ...................................................................................................................... 55
January 2014
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
STATES AT A GLANCE
Alabama ................................................................................................................................................. 39 Alaska .................................................................................................................................................... 39 Arizona ................................................................................................................................................... 39 Arkansas ................................................................................................................................................. 39 California................................................................................................................................................ 40 Colorado ................................................................................................................................................. 40 Connecticut............................................................................................................................................. 40 Delaware ................................................................................................................................................ 40 District of Columbia................................................................................................................................ 40 Florida .................................................................................................................................................... 41 Georgia ................................................................................................................................................... 41 Hawaii .................................................................................................................................................... 41 Idaho . .. .................................................................................................................................................. 41 Illinois .................................................................................................................................................... 41 Indiana.................................................................................................................................................... 42 Iowa.................................................................................................................................................... 42 Kansas .................................................................................................................................................... 42 Kentucky ................................................................................................................................................ 42 Louisiana ................................................................................................................................................ 42 Maine .................................................................................................................................................... 43 Maryland ................................................................................................................................................ 43 Massachusetts ......................................................................................................................................... 43 Michigan ................................................................................................................................................ 43 Minnesota ............................................................................................................................................... 43 Mississippi.............................................................................................................................................. 44 Missouri ................................................................................................................................................. 44 Montana ................................................................................................................................................. 44 Nebraska................................................................................................................................................. 44 Nevada ................................................................................................................................................... 45 New Hampshire ...................................................................................................................................... 45 New Jersey ............................................................................................................................................. 45 New Mexico ........................................................................................................................................... 45 New York ............................................................................................................................................... 45 North Carolina ........................................................................................................................................ 46 North Dakota .......................................................................................................................................... 46 Ohio.................................................................................................................................................... 46 Oklahoma ............................................................................................................................................... 46 Oregon.................................................................................................................................................... 46 Pennsylvania ........................................................................................................................................... 47 Rhode Island ........................................................................................................................................... 47 South Carolina ........................................................................................................................................ 47 South Dakota .......................................................................................................................................... 47 Tennessee ............................................................................................................................................... 48 Texas . . ................................................................................................................................................... 48 Utah... . ................................................................................................................................................... 48 Vermont ................................................................................................................................................. 48 Virginia .................................................................................................................................................. 48 Washington............................................................................................................................................. 49 West Virginia.......................................................................................................................................... 49 Wisconsin ............................................................................................................................................... 49 Wyoming ................................................................................................................................................ 49
January 2014
GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS
AAA - American Automobile Association Advocates - Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety BAC - Blood Alcohol Concentration CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention DC - District of Columbia DUI - Driving Under the Influence DWI - Driving While Intoxicated FARS - Fatality Analysis Reporting System GAO - Government Accountability Office GDL - Graduated Driver Licensing IID - Ignition Interlock Device IIHS - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety MADD - Mothers Against Drunk Driving NHTSA - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NTSB - National Transportation Safety Board SADD - Students Against Destructive Decisions U.S. DOT - United States Department of Transportation
January 2014
URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO IMPROVE HIGHWAY SAFETY

The Problem Driving an automobile is an American way of life. With over 4 million miles of roadway, Americans are afforded a significant degree of mobility. Yet this increased access offered by our nations highway system comes with an enormous social cost over 5.5 million crashes annually resulting in more than 33,000 fatalities on average and 2.3 million injuries, at an economic cost to society in excess of $230 billion. Every day over 90 people are killed on Americas streets and highways, and almost 6,500 are injured. While federal action and safety requirements can address part of the problem, state laws have a direct effect on promoting safer behavior by drivers and occupants. Unfortunately, too many state legislatures are not taking proactive steps to reduce these numbers by enacting effective and proven highway safety laws. Key Facts About This Leading Public Health Epidemic:
33,561 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2012an increase of 3.3% from 2011. This is the first annual increase in motor vehicle fatalities after six consecutive years of decline. Automobile crashes remain the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of five and 24. An estimated 2.36 million people were injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2012. In 2012, more than half (52%) of passenger vehicle occupants killed were unrestrained. Crashes involving teen drivers resulted in 4,640 total fatalities in 2012. A total of 4,957 motorcyclists died in 2012, an increase from 2011. This death toll accounts for 15% of all fatalities. 1,168 children ages 14 and younger were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2012. 291 children ages four through seven were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2012. More than 3.5 million people have been killed in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. since 1899. The more than 5.5 million police-reported motor vehicle crashes in 2012 cost our nation in excess of $230 billion in property and productivity losses, medical and emergency bills and other related costs. This adds up to a crash tax of $730 for every person, every year. An additional 333 new laws need to be adopted in all states and DC to fully meet Advocates recommendations for basic safety laws.
January 2014
25 YEARS OF ADVOCATES IN ACTION
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety was founded in 1989 by executives of the major property and casualty insurance companies and prominent consumer and safety leaders. Over the past 25 years, Advocates has been a strong leader in encouraging the adoption of federal and state laws, policies and programs that prevent motor vehicle crashes, save lives, reduce injuries, and contain costs. As Advocates celebrates 25 years, it is important to look back on the progress made in the states in adopting our recommended optimal laws. Yet, the need to close dangerous gaps in state traffic safety laws is clear, as are the deadly consequences of states repealing lifesaving laws.
Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Laws (Front) 1989: 6 2014: 33+DC Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Laws (Rear) 1989: 0 2014: 17+DC Ignition Interlock Devices Required for All-Offenders 1989: 0 2014: 20
All-Driver Text Messaging Restrictions 1989: 0 2014: 37+DC
All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Laws 1989: 22+DC 2014: 19+DC
Booster Seat Laws 1989: 0 2014: 31+DC
Graduated Driver Licensing Provisions 1989: At least 1 in 1 state 2014: 183 in all 50 states + DC
January 2014
SAFETY LAWS REDUCE CRASH COSTS

Motor vehicle crashes impose a significant financial burden on society. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the total economic cost of motor vehicle crashes in 2000 was more than $230 billion. Based on this, every person pays an annual crash tax of $730. Motor vehicle crashes in the year 2000: Resulted in $81.2 billion in lost workplace and household productivity; Created $32.6 billion in present and future medical costs; Totaled $59 billion in property damage costs; Amounted to $57 billion in other costs; and, Cost each critically injured survivor an average of $1.1 million. A more recent 2011 American Automobile Association (AAA) study reported that the annual cost of motor vehicle crashes in urbanized areas alone was nearly $300 billion. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in a one -year period (2005), the cost of medical care and productivity losses alone associated with injuries from motor vehicle crashes exceeded $99 billion. Annual Economic Cost of Motor Vehicle Crashes to States*
STATE AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO
7 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
(Billions $) STATE $2.788 $.475 $4.272 $1.965 $20.655 $3.278 $3.596 $.706 $.732 $14.403 $7.850 $.655 $.856 $8.984 $4.346 $2.105 $1.884 $3.114 $4.000 $.912 $4.237 $6.276 $8.069 $3.065 $2.106 $4.737 MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY Total
(Billions $) $.621 $1.629 $1.873 $1.014 $9.336 $1.413 $19.490 $8.270 $.290 $11.090 $2.593 $1.948 $8.170 $.767 $3.335 $.498 $4.628 $19.761 $1.594 $.221 $5.203 $5.310 $1.268 $3.756 $.424 $230.568
January 2014
Source: The Economic Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2000, NHTSA (2002). *The report has not been updated.
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY IN 2013

In 2013, there were merely ten laws passed in eight states that meet the criteria for this report. While there was other legislative activity throughout the states, for purposes of this report we are only considering those laws that meet the optimal law criteria, as defined on pages 11 and 12. Any other laws, including those that are secondary enforcement or do not otherwise meet the optimal law criteria, are not included in the legislative activity summary below. Highway Safety Laws Enacted 2013, in All State Legislatures Primary Enforcement of Seat Belts: West Virginia (front); Hawaii (rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Laws: None adopted, but none repealed Booster Seats (children ages 4 through 7): None Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL): Hawaii, Maryland, Utah (cell phone restriction); Texas (supervised driving requirement) Impaired Driving: Maine, Tennessee (ignition interlock devices for all offenders) All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction: Hawaii, Virginia
States are failing to close important safety gaps because they have not adopted the lifesaving safety laws listed below. While several highway safety laws have been enacted during the last few years, many considered to be fundamental to highway safety are still missing in many states. Based on Advocates safety recommendations, states need to adopt 333 new laws:
17 states still need an optimal primary enforcement seat belt law for front seat passengers; 33 states still need an optimal primary enforcement seat belt law for rear seat passengers; 31 states still need an optimal all-rider motorcycle helmet law; 19 states still need an optimal booster seat law; No state meets all the criteria of Advocates recommended GDL program (174 laws still needed); 39 states and DC are missing one or more critical impaired driving laws (46 laws still needed); and, 13 states still need an optimal all-driver text messaging restriction.
January 2014
KEY THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS REPORT

The Report is Divided into Five Issue Sections: Occupant Protection: Primary Enforcement Seat Belts for Both Front and Rear Seat Occupants and All-Rider Motorcycle Helmets Child Passenger Safety: Booster Seats Teen Driving (GDL): Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit; 6 -Month Holding Period; 30-50 Hours Supervised Driving; Nighttime Driving Restriction; Passenger Restriction; Cell Phone Use Restriction; and Age 18 for Unrestricted License Impaired Driving: Ignition Interlock Devices (IIDs) for All Offenders; Child Endangerment; and Open Container Distracted Driving: All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction In Advocates judgment and experience, the 15 state laws that are listed in the five sections are essential to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce health care and other costs. They do not comprise the entire list of effective public policy interventions states should take to reduce motor vehicle deaths and injuries. Background information about each law is provided in the respective sections throughout the report. The statistical data on crashes, fatalities and injuries are based on 2012 Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS) published data, except as otherwise indicated. States are rated only on whether they have adopted a specific law, not on other aspects or measures of an effective highway safety program. A definition of each law as used by Advocates for purposes of this report can be found on pages 11-12. No state can receive the highest rating (Green) without both primary enforcement seat belt laws (front and rear). Additionally, no state that has repealed its all-rider motorcycle helmet law within the previous ten years may receive a green rating in this report. Each issue section has a state law chart, in alphabetical order, with each states rating. The section ratings result in an overall rating, and overall state ratings on pages 36-37 fall into three groupings: GoodState is significantly advanced toward adopting all of Advocates recommended optimal laws. CautionState needs improvement because of gaps in Advocates recommended optimal laws. DangerState falls dangerously behind in adoption of Advocates recommended optimal laws.
January 2014
WHATS NEW IN THIS YEARS REPORT
Under Occupant Protection, there has been a rating added for primary enforcement seat belt laws covering passengers in rear seating positions. This law is rated separately from the optimal primary seat belt law covering passengers in the front seats. This law is included in the Overall State Ratings, and no credit is given to laws that are subject to secondary enforcement. With the addition of the new rating for a primary seat belt law covering passengers in rear seating positions, the criteria for the overall rating is also changed. No state can receive an overall green rating without having both the primary seat belt law for front seat passengers and the primary enforcement seat belt law for rear seat passengers. Regardless of the number of other state laws, a state cannot receive a green rating without both laws. The rating for Mandatory Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Testing under Impaired Driving has been removed. In the States at a Glance section, there has been a fatality count added for the years dating back to 1989, when Advocates was founded.
January 2014
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DEFINITIONS OF 15 LIFESAVING LAWS

Based on government and private research, crash data and state experience, Advocates has determined the traffic safety laws listed below are critical to reducing motor vehicle deaths and injuries. For the purposes of this report, states are only given credit if the state law meets the optimal safety provisions as defined below. No credit is given for laws that fail to fully meet the criteria in this report (although the existence of a partial law is indicated by an open circle for informational purposes only). Also, no credit is given for laws that are subject to secondary enforcement or for GDL laws that permit an exemption based on driver education programs. Occupant Protection
Primary Enforcement Front Seat Belt Law - Allows law enforcement officers to stop and ticket the driver when they see a violation of the seat belt law for front seat occupants. No other violation need occur first to take action. Ratings are based on front seat occupants only. No state without this law, in addition to a primary enforcement rear seat belt law, may receive a green overall rating. Primary Enforcement Rear Seat Belt Law - Requires that all occupants in the rear seat of a vehicle wear a seat belt and allows law enforcement officers to stop and ticket the driver when they see a violation of the seat belt law. No other violation need occur first to take action. No state without this law, in addition to a primary enforcement front seat belt law, may receive a green overall rating. All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law - Requires all motorcycle riders, regardless of age, to use a helmet that meets U.S. DOT standards or face a fine. No state that has repealed its existing all -rider motorcycle helmet law in the previous ten years can achieve a green overall rating.
Child Passenger Safety

Booster Seat Law - Requires, at a minimum, that children ages four through seven be placed in a child restraint system (booster seat) that is certified by the manufacturer to meet U.S. DOT safety standards.
Teen Driving
GDL programs allow novice teen drivers to learn to drive under lower risk conditions, and consist of a learner's stage, then an intermediate stage, before being granted an unrestricted license. The learners stage requires teen drivers to complete a minimum number of months of adult -supervised driving in order to move to the next phase and drive unsupervised. The intermediate stage restricts teens from driving in high-risk situations for a specified period of time before receiving an unrestricted license. Advocates rates state GDL laws on seven key safety components identified in research and data analysis: Learners Stage: Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit - A beginning teen driver is prohibited from obtaining a learners permit until the age of 16. States have not been given credit if the law allows for a beginning driver to obtain a learners permit before the age of 16. Learners Stage: Six-Month Holding Period Provision - A beginning teen driver must be supervised by an adult licensed driver at all times during the learners stage. If the learner remains citation-free for six months, he or she may progress to the intermediate stage. States have not been given credit if the length of the holding period is less than six months, or if there is a reduction in the length of the holding period for drivers who take a driver education course.
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January 2014
DEFINITIONS OF 15 LIFESAVING LAWS (CONT.)

Teen Driving (cont.)
Learners Stage: 30-50 Hours of Supervised Driving Provision - A beginning teen driver must receive at least 30-50 hours of behind-the-wheel training with an adult licensed driver during the learners stage. States have not been given credit if the number of required supervised driving hours is less than 30, or if there is a reduction in the required number of hours of supervised driving (to less than 30 hours) for drivers who take a driver education course. Intermediate Stage: Nighttime Driving Restriction Provision - Unsupervised driving should be prohibited from at least 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Intermediate Stage: Passenger Restriction Provision - This provision limits the number of teenage passengers who may legally ride with a teen driver without adult supervision. The optimal limit is no more than one non-familial teenage passenger. Cell Phone Restriction - This restriction prohibits all use of cellular devices (hand-held, hands-free and text messaging) by beginning teen drivers, except in the case of an emergency. States are only given credit if the provision lasts for the entire duration of the GDL program (both learners and intermediate stages). Age 18 for Unrestricted License - A teen driver is prohibited from obtaining an unrestricted license until the age of 18, and one or both of the nighttime and passenger restrictions must last until age 18. States have not been given credit if teen drivers can obtain an unrestricted license before the age of 18.
Impaired Driving
Ignition Interlock Devices (IIDs) - This law mandates the installation of IIDs on the vehicles of all convicted drunk driving offenders. Advocates has given credit for laws that require the use of IIDs for all offenders. Some states (CO, IL and OR) have also been given credit for having laws that provide strong incentives for all offenders to use IIDs. Child Endangerment - This law either creates a separate offense or enhances an existing penalty for an impaired driving offender who endangers a minor. No credit is given if this law applies only to drivers who are under 21 years of age. Open Container - This law prohibits open containers of alcohol in the passenger area of a motor vehicle. To comply with federal requirements, the law must: prohibit both possession of any open alcoholic beverage container and the consumption of alcohol from an open container; apply to the entire passenger area of any motor vehicle; apply to all vehicle occupants except for passengers of buses, taxi cabs, limousines or persons in the living quarters of motor homes; apply to vehicles on the shoulder of public highways; and, require primary enforcement of the law. State laws are counted in this report only if they are in compliance with the federal law and regulation.
Distracted Driving
All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction - This law prohibits all drivers from sending, receiving, or reading a text message from any handheld or electronic data communication device, except in the case of an emergency.
January 2014
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OCCUPANT PROTECTION
Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Laws (Front Seat) Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Laws (Rear Seat) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Laws
WA MT OR ID WY IA NV CA UT CO KS MO KY NM OK AR AL GA TN NC SC MS LA NE IL IN OH WV VA SD MN WI MI PA NY ME VT NH MA RI CT NJ MD DE DC (green)
ND
AZ
AK
TX
FL HI
State has all three laws, a primary enforcement seat belt law (front), primary enforcement seat belt law (rear) and an all -rider motorcycle helmet law State has two of the three laws, a primary enforcement seat belt law (front), primary enforcement seat belt law (rear) or an all -rider motorcycle helmet law State has one or none of the three laws
Note: No credit is given for laws that are subject to secondary enforcement. Please refer to page 10 for law definitions. See States at a Glance, beginning on page 38, to determine which law the yellow states lack.
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January 2014
PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT SEAT BELT LAWS

Seat belt use, reinforced by effective safety belt laws, is a proven lifesaver. In 2012, 21,667 occupants of passenger vehicles were killed in motor vehicle crashes. Of the passenger vehicle occupant fatalities for which restraint use was known, 52% were not wearing seat belts. States with primary enforcement laws have higher seat belt use rates. In 2013, states with primary enforcement seat belt laws for front seat passengers had a 91% belt use rate, while states with secondary laws had an 80% belt use rate, according to NHTSA data. A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that when states strengthen their laws from secondary to primary enforcement, driver death rates decline by an estimated 7%. The chart below indicates the number of lives saved by seat belt use, along with the additional number of lives that could have been saved if the seat belt use rate in the state had been 100%. Needless deaths and injuries that result from non-use of seat belts cost society an estimated $60 billion annually in medical care, lost productivity and other injury-related costs, according to a study by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. Unfortunately, as the chart below indicates, 17 states (in red) have failed to upgrade either of their belt laws to primary enforcement.
Lives Saved in 2012 vs. Lives that Could Have Been Saved by 100% Seat Belt UseBy State, Age 5 and older (NHTSA, 2013)
States in red have laws that are subject only to secondary enforcement; NH has no law. Lives Saved AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID 304 21 231 189 1,194 149 90 35 0 752 486 27 73 Could have been saved 75 5 90 108 96 58 22 7 0 190 85 4 31 IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO Lives Saved 346 316 161 143 272 246 55 209 95 417 173 203 195 Could have been saved 47 40 26 61 97 101 20 35 50 50 21 82 111 MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA Lives Saved 48 62 90 25 181 132 460 507 55 379 263 146 328 Could have been saved 34 31 17 19 43 26 79 119 26 148 95 10 136 RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY Lives Saved 32 278 40 373 1,479 68 19 276 176 91 230 55 Could have been saved 13 61 31 133 185 27 7 120 12 39 83 24
This death toll has significant emotional and economic impacts on American families, but there are solutions at hand to address this public health epidemiceffective primary enforcement safety belt laws covering passengers in all seating positions. All states except New Hampshire have a seat belt use law, but only 33 states and DC allow primary enforcement of their front seat belt laws. Among the states that have primary enforcement seat belt laws, only 17 and DC cover occupants in all seating positions (front and rear).
January 2014
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PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT SEAT BELT LAWS

Lap-shoulder belts, when used, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat car occupants by 45% and the risk of moderate-to-critical injuries by 50%. For light truck occupants, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 60% and moderate-to-critical injury by 65%. NHTSA data shows that nationwide seat belts saved an estimated 12,174 lives age five and older of passengers in all seating positions in 2012 . An additional 3,031 lives could have been saved if all passenger vehicle occupants had worn seat belts. In 2011, the proportion of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants seated in the front seat was 50%, compared to 61% of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants seated in the rear seat, according to NHTSA data. The majority of passengers in the rear seats of vehicles are teens and children, and studies have shown that seat belt usage by teens is the lowest of any segment of society, according to NHTSA. If every state with a secondary seat belt law upgraded to primary enforcement, about 1,000 lives and $4 billion in crash costs could be saved every year, according to a NHTSA report The average in-patient costs for crash victims who dont use seat belts are 55% higher than for those who use them, according to NHTSA. Minnesota changed its seat belt law to primary enforcement in 2009 and the states Department of Public Safety found that the seatbelt usage rate jumped to nearly 93% from 87% and unbelted deaths dropped from 150 fatalities in 2008 to 120 deaths in 2011. In 2009, Wisconsin upgraded its seat belt law to primary enforcement and the states Department of Transportation determined that the seat belt use rate increased to nearly 80% in 2011, an increase of 8%. Opponents often assert that highway safety laws violate personal choice and individual rights. In response, the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts held in a decision affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court that, from the moment of injury, society picks the person up off the highway; delivers him to a municipal hospital and municipal doctors; provides him with unemployment compensation if, after recovery, he cannot replace his lost job; and, if the injury causes disability, may assume the responsibility for his and his familys continued subsistence. According to a NHTSA study of the relationship between primary enforcement belt laws and minority ticketing, the share of citations for Hispanics and African Americans changed very little after states adopted primary enforcement belt laws. In fact, there were significant gains in seat belt use among all ethnic groups, none of which were proportionately greater in any minority group.
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the occupant protection data specifically refers to front seat occupants.
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January 2014
ALL-RIDER MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAWS

In 2012, 4,957 motorcyclists were killed and 93,000 were injured on our nation's roads. The number of motorcycle crash fatalities has more than doubled since a low of 2,116 in 1997. NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,699 motorcyclists in 2012 and that 781 more lives in all states could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets. All -rider helmet laws increase motorcycle helmet use, decrease deaths and injuries and save taxpayer dollars.
AK
2 27 17 20 10 2 98 11
ID IL IN IA KS KY ME MI
4 45 46 18 13 26 5 25
MN MT NH NM ND OH OK PA
16 8 7 15 4 47 24 39
RI SC SD TX UT WI WY
2 39 8 101 4 34 4
States Without All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Laws & Lives that Could Have Been Saved in 2012 by 100 Percent Helmet Use (NHTSA, 2013)
AZ AR CO CT DE FL HI
When crashes occur, motorcyclists need adequate head protection to prevent one of the leading causes of death and disability in America - head injuries. Studies have determined that helmets reduce head injuries without increased occurrence of spinal injuries in motorcycle trauma. According to a 2012 GAO report, laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets are the only strategy proved to be effective in reducing motorcyclist fatalities. Today, only 19 states and DC require all motorcycle riders to use a helmet. Twenty -eight states have laws that cover only some riders (i.e., up to age 18 or 21). These age -specific laws are nearly impossible for police officers to enforce and result in much lower helmet use. Three states (IL, IA and NH) have no motorcycle helmet use law. In 2013, there were 19 attempts in 11 states to repeal existing all-rider helmet laws. In 2011, more than half (59%) of the fatally injured motorcycle riders were not wearing a helmet in states without all -rider helmet laws, compared to only 9% of fatally injured riders in states with an all-rider helmet law.
January 2014
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ALL-RIDER MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAWS
In 2012, motorcyclists represented 14% of the total traffic fatalities, yet accounted for only 3% of all registered vehicles in the United States. According to NHTSA, in 2012, there were ten times as many unhelmeted fatalities (1,858) in states without a universal helmet law compared to states with a universal helmet law (178 deaths). These states were nearly equivalent with respect to total resident populations. The GAO estimated that in 2010 the direct measurable costs of motorcycle crashes were approximately $16 billion. According to IIHS, in 2011 NHTSA reported that states with all -rider helmet laws had 96% observed use of motorcycle helmets, while states without all -rider laws had a use rate of only 55%. Economic benefits of motorcycle helmet use laws are substantial. In states that have an all -rider helmet use law, cost savings to society were $725 per registered motorcycle, compared to savings of just $198 per registered motorcycle in states without a mandatory helmet use law, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A poll conducted by Lou Harris showed that by an overwhelming majority (80%), Americans favor state laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets. Motorcycle helmets are 69% effective in preventing brain injuries and 42% effective in preventing motorcyclist deaths. If Michigan had not repealed its all-rider helmet law in 2012, there would have been 26 fewer motorcycle crash deaths, a 21% reduction, that year if the helmet mandate was still in place, according to IIHS. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, in states with youth -specific helmet laws, use has decreased and youth mortality has increased. Serious traumatic brain injury among young riders was 38% higher in states with only age-specific laws compared to states with allrider helmet laws. There is no scientific evidence that motorcycle rider training reduces crash risk and is an adequate substitute for an all-rider helmet law. In fact, motorcycle fatalities continued to increase even after a motorcycle education and training grant program included in federal legislation took effect in 2006.
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January 2014
OCCUPANT PROTECTION LAWS RATING CHART

Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Laws (Front) Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Laws (Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Laws
Number of new occupant protection laws since January 2013: One primary enforcement (front) (WV), One primary enforcement (rear) (HI), NO all-rider motorcycle helmet laws
Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front Seat) AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO
January 2014
Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear Seat)
All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law
Rating
Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front Seat)
Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear Seat)
Rating
STATUS OF STATE LAWS 17 states do not have primary enforcement seat belt laws for passengers, regardless of seating position. No state adopted an all-rider motorcycle helmet law in 2013.
MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY
Total
33+ DC 17+ DC 19+ DC
There were 19 attempts to repeal all -rider motorcycle helmet laws in 11 states.
11 states have none of the three laws. (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NH, ND, OH, PA, SD, UT and WY). 4 states and DC have all three laws (CA, LA, OR, and WA)
= Optimal law = Good (3 optimal laws) = Caution (2 optimal laws) = Danger (1 or 0 optimal laws)
(No credit is given for laws that are secondary enforcement)
18
CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY

Booster Seat Laws
WA MT OR ID WY IA NV CA UT CO KS MO KY OK AR AL GA TN NC SC MS LA NE IL IN OH WV VA SD MN WI MI PA NY ME VT NH MA RI CT NJ MD DE DC (green)
ND
AZ
NM
AK
TX
FL HI
State has an optimal booster seat law State has a booster seat law, but does not meet Advocates optimal provisions, no credit is given State does not have a booster seat law, or the law is subject to secondary enforcement
Note: No credit is given for laws that are subject to secondary enforcement. Please refer to page 11 for law definition.
19
January 2014
BOOSTER SEAT LAWS

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for American children aged five to fourteen. An average of three children under age 14 were killed and 463 were injured every day in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. in 2012. Additionally, 291 children age four through seven died in motor vehicle crashes. The best way to protect children age 12 and under from risks posed by air bags is to place them in the back seat, restrained by a child safety seat, booster seat or safety belt, as appropriate. Booster seats are intended to provide a platform that lifts the child up off the vehicle seat in order to improve the fit of the child in a three-point adult safety belt. They should also position the lap belt portion of the adult safety belt across the child's hips or pelvic area. An improper fit of an adult safety belt can cause the lap belt to ride up over the stomach and the shoulder belt to cut across the neck, potentially exposing the child to serious abdominal and neck injury. Additionally, if the shoulder strap portion of the lap/shoulder belt is uncomfortable, children will likely place it behind their backs, defeating the safety benefits of the system. When children are properly restrained in a child safety seat, booster seat or safety belt, as appropriate for their age and size, their chance of being killed or seriously injured in a car crash is greatly reduced. According to NHTSA, when used properly, child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers in passenger cars. Using a booster seat with a seat belt instead of a seat belt alone reduces a child's risk of injury in a crash by 59%, according to Partners for Child Passenger Safety, a project of Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance. In 2012, there were 298 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities among children age four or younger and of those, where restraint use was known, 31% were totally unrestrained. More than 280 lives were saved in 2012 by restraining children four and younger in passenger vehicles. Across all age groups, injury risk is lowest (less than 2%) when children are placed in an age appropriate restraint in the rear seat. A Harris public opinion poll found that 84% of Americans support all states having booster seat laws protecting children ages four through seven. According to IIHS, expanded child restraint laws covering children through age seven were associated with: 5% reduction in the rate of children with injuries of any severity; 17% reduction in the rate of children with fatal and incapacitating injuries; Children being 3 times as likely to be in appropriate restraints; 6% increase in the number of booster -seat aged children seated in the rear of the vehicle where children are more protected.
To date, 47 states and DC have enacted primary enforcement booster seat laws. However, only 31 of those states and DC have laws that provide protection for children ages four through seven, as recommended by Advocates, NTSB, NHTSA, and other child safety advocacy organizations.
January 2014 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety 20
BOOSTER SEAT LAWS RATING CHART
AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO
Booster Seat Law
Rating MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY
Total 31+ DC
Booster Seat Law
Rating
STATUS OF STATE LAWS No state adopted an optimal booster seat law in 2013. 31 states and DC have an optimal booster seat law. 16 states (AL, AR, CT, ID, IA, KY, LA, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, ND, OK, and SC) have a booster seat law that does not cover children through age 7. 3 states (FL, OH, and SD) have yet to adopt any booster seat law, or the states law only permits secondary enforcement.
= Optimal law = Law does not fully satisfy Advocates recommendation (no credit given) = Good = Caution = Danger
21
January 2014
TEEN DRIVING: GRADUATED DRIVER

LICENSING (GDL) PROGRAM
Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit 6-Month Holding Period 30-50 Hours Supervised Driving Nighttime Driving Restriction Passenger Restriction Cell Phone Restriction Age 18 for Unrestricted License
ND
AZ
NM
AK
TX
FL HI
State has at least 5 of 7 optimal GDL provisions
State has 2 to 4 of the 7 optimal GDL provisions
State has less than 2 of the 7 optimal GDL provisions Note: No credit is given for laws that are subject to secondary enforcement. Please refer to pages 11 - 12 for law definitions. See States at a Glance, beginning on page 38, to determine which laws states lack.
January 2014
22
TEEN DRIVING LAWS

Motor Vehicle Crashes are the Number One Killer of American Teenagers
Teen drivers are far more likely than other drivers to be involved in fatal crashes because they lack driving experience and tend to take greater risks. According to NHTSA, 4,640 people were killed in crashes involving young drivers in 2012. Of that number, 1,875 were young drivers and 1,052 were passengers of young drivers. The remaining 1,713 victims were pedestrians, pedalcyclists, and the occupants of the other vehicles involved in crashes with young drivers. According to NHTSA, the annual estimated economic cost of police-reported crashes involving young drivers is $40.8 billion. GDL programs, which introduce teens to the driving experience gradually by phasing in full driving privileges over time and in lower risk settings, have been effective in reducing teen crash deaths. In this report, each of the seven optimal GDL provisions is counted separately in rating the state effort. No state has all of the optimal GDL provisions recommended in this report. The map below shows the number of fatalities caused by motor vehicle crashes involving drivers aged 15 to 20 from 2006 to 2012.
23
January 2014
TEEN DRIVING LAWS
A study conducted by IIHS found that fatal crash rates per mile driven are twice as high for 16 year-olds as they are for 18 to 19-year-olds. The greatest incidence (20%) of teenage motor vehicle crash deaths occurs from 9 p.m. to midnight. In states that have adopted GDL systems, studies have found overall crash reductions among teen drivers of about 10-30%. Programs that included a mandatory waiting period, a nighttime restriction, and either supervised driving for at least 30 hours or a passenger restriction were associated with reductions of 16-21% in fatal-crash involvement rates of 16-year-old drivers, according to NHTSA. States with nighttime driving restrictions show crash reductions of up to 60% during restricted hours. Fatal crash rates are 21% lower for 15 to 17-year-old drivers when they are prohibited from having any teenage passengers in their vehicles, compared to when two or more passengers are allowed. An analysis of fatal crash rates for drivers age 15 to 17 in states with different minimum learners permit and intermediate license ages found that as the age of obtaining a learners permit decreases, fatal crash rates increase. The earlier young people are allowed to learn to drive, and the younger the age at which they become licensed, are both factors associated with higher fatal crash rates. In 2010, more than half (54%) of the young drivers killed were unrestrained, where restraint use was known. NHTSA data shows 26% of young drivers age 15 to 20 who were killed in crashes in 2011 had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher. Text messaging has become a more prominent issue when it comes to distracted teen drivers. In a 2007 study by Liberty Mutual Insurance Group and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), 46% of teens admitted to text messaging while driving, even though 37% rated text messaging as extremely or very distracting. A 2010 survey conducted by IIHS shows that parents favor GDL laws that are as strict or even stricter than currently exist in any state. More than half of respondents think the minimum licensing age should be 17 or older. Almost three-quarters (74%) of teens approve of a single, comprehensive law that incorporates the key elements of GDL, according to a 2010 survey by the Allstate Foundation.
January 2014
24
TEEN DRIVING LAWS RATING CHART

Number of new teen driving laws since January 2013: No minimum age for learners permit; No 6-month holding period; One supervised driving provision (TX); No nighttime restriction; No passenger restriction; Three optimal cell phone restrictions (HI , MD & UT); and No age 18 for unrestricted license. 30-50 Hrs. Supervised Driving Nighttime Restriction Cell Phone Restriction Age 18 Unrestricted License Teen Driving Laws Rating Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit Teen Driving Laws Rating Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit
= Optimal law = Law does not satisfy Advocates recommendation (no credit given) = Good (At least 5 optimal provisions) = Caution (at least 2 to 4 of 7 optimal provisions) = Danger (Less than 2 optimal provisions) (No credit is given for laws that are secondary enforcement) 25 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
6-Month Holding Period

Passenger Restriction
6-Month Holding Period
30-50 Hrs. Supervised Driving
Nighttime Restriction
Cell Phone Restriction
Age 18 Unrestricted License
Total

8+ DC 46+ DC

40+ DC

11

28+ DC

31
15
January 2014
IMPAIRED DRIVING
Ignition Interlock Devices Child Endangerment Open Container
WA MT OR ID WY IA NV CA UT CO KS NE MO KY OK AR AL GA TN NC SC MS LA IL IN OH WV VA SD MN WI MI PA NY ME VT NH MA RI CT NJ MD DE DC (yellow)
ND
AZ
NM
AK
TX
FL HI
State has all 3 optimal impaired driving laws
State has 2 optimal impaired driving laws
State has 1 or 0 optimal impaired driving laws
Note: No credit is given for laws that are subject to secondary enforcement. Please refer to page 12 for law definitions. See States at a Glance, beginning on page 38, to determine which laws states lack.
January 2014
26
IMPAIRED DRIVING LAWS

Since the 1980s, there has generally been a downward trend in alcohol -related deaths that can be attributed to a cultural shift in attitudes towards drunk driving, as well as strong anti -drunk driving laws. However, this problem still remains a substantial and serious safety threat, accounting for nearly a third of all traffic deaths in the U.S. In 2012, 10,322 people died in crashes involving drunk drivers457 more than 2011representing an almost 5% increase. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), drunk driving costs more than $132 billion annually. Clearly, more still needs to be done to reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roadways.

An average of one alcohol-impaired driving fatality occurred every 51 minutes in 2012. A common misconception is that most people who are convicted of their first drunk driving offense are social drinkers who made one mistake. However, studies show that on average a person arrested for drunk driving has driven drunk 87 other times, according to NHTSA research. According to the CDC, adult drivers drank too much and got behind the wheel approximately 112 million times in 2010, which equals approximately 300,000 incidents of drinking and driving each day. NHTSA reports that drivers with a BAC of .08% or higher involved in fatal crashes were seven times more likely to have a prior conviction for driving while intoxicated (DWI) than were drivers with no alcohol (7% and 1% respectively).
Impaired driving laws target a range of behavioral issues associated with alcohol consumption and operation of a motor vehicle on public roads. Federal leadership in critical areas such as impaired driving has resulted in the rapid adoption of lifesaving laws in states across the country. As a result of federal laws enacted with strong sanctions, all 50 states and DC have adopted .08% BAC laws, a national 21 minimum drinking age, and zero tolerance BAC laws for youth.
27
January 2014
Ignition Interlock Device Laws

A breath alcohol ignition interlock device (IID) is a mechanism similar to a breathalyzer which is linked to a vehicles ignition system. Its purpose is to deter an individual who has a prior drunk driving conviction from driving the vehicle with a BAC that exceeds a specified level set by state law. Before the vehicle can be started, the driver must breathe into the device, and if the analyzed result is over the specified legal BAC limit, commonly .02% or .04%, the vehicle will not start. In addition, at random times after the engine has been started, the IID will require another breath sample. This prevents cheating where a friend or relative breathes into the device to bypass the system in order to enable an intoxicated person to get behind the wheel and drive. If the breath sample is not provided, or the sample exceeds the ignition interlock's preset BAC, the device will log the event, warn the driver and then set off an alarm (e.g., lights flashing, horn honking, etc.) until the ignition is turned off.
Nearly eight in ten Americans support requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted driving under the influence (DUI ) offenders, even if it is their first conviction, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). 82% of offenders themselves believe the IID was effective in preventing them from driving after drinking. According to the CDC, when IIDs are installed, they are associated with a reduction in arrest rates for impaired driving of approximately 70%. NHTSA research shows that IIDs reduce recidivism among both first -time and repeat DWI offenders, with reductions in subsequent DWI arrests ranging from 50% to 90% while the interlock is installed on the vehicle.
Advocates also has chosen to evaluate whether a states IID laws applies to all offenders. Currently, IIDs are mandatory for all offenders, including first time offenders, in only 20 states. These state laws offer the most effective means for denying drunk drivers the opportunity to get behind the wheel after having been convicted of a drunk driving offense.
January 2014
28
Child Endangerment Laws

In 2012, 239 children ages 14 and younger were killed in crashes involving an alcohol -impaired driver. A national telephone survey sponsored by NHTSA in 1999 estimated that between 46 million to 102 million drunk-driving trips are made each year with children under the age of 15 in the vehicle. Child endangerment laws either create a separate offense or enhance existing DWI and DUI penalties for people who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs with a minor child in the vehicle. Drivers who engage in this conduct create a hazardous situation for themselves and for others on the road, and also put a child who rarely has a choice as to who is driving at risk of serious danger. A CDC study found that only 18% of children who were killed in a crash while riding in the impaired drivers vehicle were properly restrained. In comparison, nearly 31% of children killed in a crash while riding with a non-impaired driver were properly restrained. Child endangerment laws are enacted to encourage people to consider the consequences for younger passengers before they drive while impaired with a child in their vehicle. When adequately defined and properly enforced, child endangerment laws act as a strong deterrent that protects children. Currently, 46 states and DC have enacted child endangerment laws that create a separate offense or increase penalties for people who drive while impaired with children in their vehicle.
Open Container Laws That Meet Federal Requirements

Studies have shown that open container laws are effective at deterring excessive drinking by drivers getting behind the wheel. States have also shown a significant decrease in hit -and-run crashes after adopting open container laws. Congress passed legislation in 1998 establishing a program designed to encourage states to adopt laws that ban the presence of open containers of any kind of alcoholic beverage in the entire passenger area of a motor vehicle. To comply with the provisions set forth in federal law, the states open container law must: Prohibit both possession of any open alcoholic beverage container and consumption of any alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle; Cover the entire passenger area of any motor vehicle, including unlocked glove compartments and accessible storage areas; Apply to all alcoholic beverages including beer, wine, and spirits; Apply to all vehicle occupants except for passengers of buses, taxi cabs, limousines or persons in the living quarters of motor homes; Apply to vehicles on the shoulder of public highways; and, Require primary enforcement of the law. In an effort to encourage states to comply with the federal law, those states that are non -compliant have 3% of certain federal highway construction funds diverted to highway safety programs that fund alcohol-impaired driving countermeasures and law enforcement activities. This federal requirement is known as redirection, and provides that states do not lose any funding, but can redirect the diverted funds to other designated programs. Redirection has been largely ineffective as an incentive for encouraging lagging states to enact strong open container laws. Currently, not every state has this law and only 39 states and DC are in compliance.
29 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety January 2014
IMPAIRED DRIVING LAWS RATING CHART

Number of new impaired driving laws since January 2013: Two ignition interlock laws for all offenders (ME, TN); No child endangerment; and No open container.
Ignition Interlocks Child Endangerment Open Container Ignition Interlocks Child Endangerment Open Container Impaired Driving Rating Impaired Driving Rating
Total 20

= Optimal law = Good (3 optimal laws) = Caution (2 optimal laws) = Danger (1 or 0 optimal laws) (No credit is given for laws that are secondary enforcement)
STATUS OF STATE LAWS 39 states and D.C. are missing one or more critical impaired driving law.

46+ DC 39+ DC
January 2014
30
DISTRACTED DRIVING: ALL-DRIVER TEXT MESSAGING RESTRICTION
ND
AZ
NM
AK
TX
FL HI
State has an optimal all -driver text messaging restriction State does not have this law, or the restriction is secondary enforcement
Note: No credit is given for laws that are subject to secondary enforcement. Please refer to page 12 for law definition. See States at a Glance, beginning on page 38, to determine which states are restricted to secondary enforcement.
31
January 2014
ALL-DRIVER TEXT MESSAGING RESTRICTIONS
According to NHTSA, in 2012, there were 3,328 people killed and 421,000 injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. However, issues with underreporting crashes involving cell phones remain because of differences in police crash report coding, database limitations, and other challenges. It is clear from an increasing body of safety research, studies and data that the use of electronic devices for telecommunications (such as mobile phones and text messaging), telematics and entertainment can readily distract drivers from the driving task.
Research has shown that because of the degree of cognitive distraction these devices cause, the behavior of drivers using mobile phones (whether hand-held or hands -free) is equivalent to the behavior of drivers at the threshold of the legal limit for alcohol (0.08% BAC). Crash risk increases dramatically as much as four times higher when a driver is using a mobile phone, with no significant safety difference between hand -held and hands-free phones observed in many studies. According to NHTSA data, almost 10% of fatal crashes and 18% of injury crashes in 2012 were reported as distraction-affected crashes; however, there are problems with underreporting due to police crash report coding and other challenges. In 2012, The Wireless Association reported that there were more than 2.19 trillion text messages sent or received in the U.S. According to a survey by Nationwide Insurance, four out of ten respondents claimed to have been hit or nearly hit as a result of a distracted driver. Eleven percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in a fatal crash were reported as distracted at the time of the crash, according to NHTSA. This age group represents the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted. Sending or receiving a text message causes the drivers eyes to be off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. When driving 55 miles per hour, this is the equivalent of driving the entire length of a football field blind. NHTSA reports the percentage of drivers holding cell phones to their ears while driving was 5% in 2011. This rate translates into 660,000 vehicles driven by people using hand -held cell phones at a typical daytime moment in 2011. According to NHTSA, the percentage of drivers visibly manipulating hand -held devices while driving increased by 44% between 2010 and 2011.
In order to get people to pay attention while operating a vehicle and to adopt safer behaviors, education must be combined with strong laws and appropriate enforcement. This is the tried and true method to change behavior in order to improve safety. Advocates has given full credit to states that have primary enforcement of an all -driver text messaging restriction. To date, 37 states and DC ban text messaging for all drivers, including one state (HI) that adopted this law in 2013. Virginia upgraded its texting ban in 2013 from secondary to primary enforcement.
January 2014 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety 32
ALL-DRIVER TEXT MESSAGING RESTRICTIONS RATING CHART

Number of new texting laws since January 2013: Hawaii passed an optimal law; and, Virginia upgraded to primary enforcement.
Rating
All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction
Rating
All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO

33
STATUS OF STATE LAWS 37 states and DC have an optimal alldriver text messaging restriction. 9 states have yet to adopt an all-driver text messaging restriction (AZ, MS, MO, MT, NM, OK, SC, SD, and TX), and four states have laws that are only subject to secondary enforcement (IA, FL, NE, and OH).
= Optimal law = Good = Danger

Total 37+ DC
January 2014
OVERALL STATE RATINGS BASED ON TOTAL NUMBER OF LAWS

On the following pages, Advocates has given an overall rating to the states based on the number of laws in each state that are recommended in this report. Credit is given only when the law meets Advocates optimal law recommendations (see pages 11-12 for law definitions). No credit is given for laws that are subject to secondary enforcement. The overall rating takes into consideration whether a state has occupant protection laws. No state without a primary enforcement seat belt law covering passengers in all seating positions (front and rear) or that has repealed an existing all-rider motorcycle helmet law within the previous ten years, is eligible for a green overall rating, no matter how many other laws it may have. This weighting is to emphasize the significance of comprehensive primary enforcement seat belt laws and all -rider motorcycle helmet laws in saving lives and reducing injuries.
January 2014
34
OVERALL STATE RATINGS BASED ON TOTAL NUMBER OF LAWS
WA MT OR ID WY IA NV CA UT CO KS MO KY OK AR MS AK TX LA AL GA TN SC NC NE IL IN OH WV VA SD MN WI MI PA NY ME VT NH MA RI CT NJ MD DE DC (green)
ND
AZ
NM
FL HI
RATINGS CHART Color Number of Points

11 to 15, with both primary enforcement seat belt laws, or 9 or more, with both primary enforcement laws and all-rider helmet law 6 to 10, with both primary enforcement seat belt laws, or 7 and above, without both primary enforcement seat belt laws Fewer than 7, without both primary enforcement seat belt laws
Definition
State is significantly advanced toward adoption of all Advocates recommended highway safety laws
State is advancing but has numerous gaps in its highway safety laws.
State falls dangerously behind in adoption of key safety laws.
35
January 2014
OVERALL RATING BASED ON NUMBER OF SAFETY LAWS

Teen Driving Laws Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front) Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware
District of Columbia
Impaired Driving Cell Phone Restriction Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlocks for All Offenders Child Endangerment Law Open Container Law All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction Total Credit for Number of Laws 2013 Overall Safety Rating 2013
Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear)
Booster Seat Law
Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit
6 Mo. Holding Period
30-50 hrs. Supervised Driving
6 9 5 7 9 8 8 11 12 6
Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana
10 11 7 12 11 5 11 9 9 11 10 10 10 10 4 7
= Optimal law (1 point)
= No credit given, indication of partial law for informational purposes only
January 2014
36
OVERALL RATING BASED ON NUMBER OF SAFETY LAWS

Teen Driving Laws Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front) Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Total Number with Optimal Law Total Number Missing Optimal Law = Optimal law (1 point)
33+ DC 17 17+ DC 33 19+ DC 31
Impaired Driving Cell Phone Restriction Ignition Interlocks for All Offenders Child Endangerment Law Total Credit for Number of Laws 2013 Overall Safety Rating 2013 Age 18 for Unrestricted License Open Container Law All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction
Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear)
Booster Seat Law
Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit
6 Mo. Holding Period
30-50 hrs. Supervised Driving

11

39+ DC 11 37+ DC 13
7 6 11 8 12 11 6 7 7

31+ DC 19 8+ DC 42
12 8 11 7 2 10 9 8 7 8 11 10 10 6

28+ DC 22

31 14+ DC 36
46+ DC 4
40+ DC 10
20
46+ DC 4
39+ DC
19+ DC
30+ DC
= No credit given, indication of partial law for informational purposes only
37
January 2014
STATES AT A GLANCE
Each state and DC are graphically represented in alphabetical order with the following information:
The number of people killed in motor vehicle crashes in each state for the year 2012, as reported
by NHTSA.
The number of people killed in motor vehicle crashes in each state since Advocates founding in
1989, as reported by NHTSA.
The annual economic cost of motor vehicle crashes to the state, as reported in The Economic
Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes 2000 (NHTSA). (See chart on page 7.)
The states background color represents its overall rating (Green, Yellow or Red) based on the
chart on pages 36 and 37 of this report.
A list of the 15 optimal lifesaving laws that the state has not enacted, based on Advocates
definitions on pages 11 and 12 as discussed in this report.
States are credited with having laws only if their laws meet Advocates optimal criteria (definitions on pages 11 and 12).
Only 10 states and DC (CA, DE, HI, IL, IN, LA, ME, OR, RI, and WA) received a Green rating, showing significant advancement toward adopting all of Advocates recommended optimal laws. 29 states (AK, AR, CO, CT, GA, ID, KS, KY, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV and WI) received a Yellow rating, showing moderately positive performance but with numerous gaps still in their highway safety laws. 11 states (AL, AZ, FL, IA, MS, MT, NE, NH, ND, SD, and WY) received a Red rating, indicating poor performance because of a dangerous lack of basic safety laws.
Abbreviation Key (Explanation for Laws Needed): S = Highway Safety Law is Secondary Enforcement (Advocates gives no credit for any law that is subject to secondary enforcement.) DE = Driver Education exemption included in the GDL provision (Advocates gives no credit for any GDL provision that is exempted based on driver education.)
Note: No state without a primary enforcement seat belt law covering passengers in all seating positions (front and rear) or that has repealed an existing all -rider motorcycle helmet law within the previous 10 years is eligible for a green rating, no matter how many other laws it may have.
January 2014
38
ALABAMA
2012 Fatalities: 865 Fatalities since 1989: 25,142 Annual Economic Cost Due to Motor Vehicle Crashes: $2.79 Billion
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Alabama: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - 30-50 Hours Supervised Driving Provision (Without DE Exemption) GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Stronger Cell Phone Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders Highway Safety Laws Needed in Alaska: All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Stronger Cell Phone Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Open Container Law
ALASKA
2012 Fatalities: 59 Fatalities since 1989: 2,002 Annual Economic Cost Due to Motor Vehicle Crashes: $475 Million
ARIZONA
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Arizona: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - 30-50 Hours Supervised Driving Provision (Without DE Exemption) GDL - Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision GDL - Cell Phone Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Age 18 Unrestricted License All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction
ARKANSAS
S = Secondary Enforcement DE = Driver Education
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Arkansas: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - 30-50 Hours Supervised Driving Provision GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Cell Phone Restriction Provision (Without S) Open Container Law
39
January 2014
CALIFORNIA
2012 Fatalities: 2,857 Fatalities since 1989: 94,365 Annual Economic Cost Due to Motor Vehicle Crashes: $20.66 Billion
Highway Safety Laws Needed in California: GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Nighttime Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Cell Phone Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders Highway Safety Laws Needed in Colorado: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Nighttime Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Highway Safety Laws Needed in Connecticut: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - 6-Month Holding Period Provision (Without DE Exemption) GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision Child Endangerment Law Open Container Law Highway Safety Laws Needed in Delaware: All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders Open Container Law
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
DELAWARE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
S = Secondary Enforcement
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Washington, D.C.: GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Stronger Cell Phone Restriction Provision Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders
DE = Driver Education
January 2014
40
FLORIDA
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Florida: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision GDL - Cell Phone Restriction Provision Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction (Without S) Highway Safety Laws Needed in Georgia: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Nighttime Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders
GEORGIA
HAWAII
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Hawaii: All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License
IDAHO
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Idaho: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Cell Phone Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders
ILLINOIS
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Illinois: All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision
41
January 2014
INDIANA
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Indiana: All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders
IOWA
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Iowa: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - 30-50 Hours Supervised Driving Provision GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction (Without S) Highway Safety Laws Needed in Kansas: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License
KANSAS
KENTUCKY
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Kentucky: All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law Highway Safety Laws Needed in Louisiana: Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Open Container Law
LOUISIANA
January 2014
42
MAINE
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Maine: All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License
MARYLAND
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Maryland: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders
MASSACHUSETTS
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Massachusetts: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) GDL - Nighttime Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision (Without S) Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders
MICHIGAN
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Michigan: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders
MINNESOTA
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Minnesota: All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders
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January 2014
MISSISSIPPI
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Mississippi: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - 30-50 Hours Supervised Driving Provision GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision GDL - Stronger Cell Phone Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders Open Container Law All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction Highway Safety Laws Needed in Missouri: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Stronger Cell Phone Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Open Container Law All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction
MISSOURI
MONTANA
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Montana: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 (Without S) GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Cell Phone Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction Highway Safety Laws Needed in Nebraska: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - 30-50 Hours Supervised Driving Provision (Without DE Exemption) GDL - Nighttime Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Cell Phone Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction (Without S)
NEBRASKA
January 2014
44
NEVADA
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Nevada: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Nighttime Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Stronger Cell Phone Restriction Provision Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders Highway Safety Laws Needed in New Hampshire: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - 6-Month Holding Period Provision GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Stronger Cell Phone Restriction Provision Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders Highway Safety Laws Needed in New Jersey: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) GDL - 30-50 Hours Supervised Driving Provision GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders Highway Safety Laws Needed in New Mexico: All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Child Endangerment Law All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO
NEW YORK
45
Highway Safety Laws Needed in New York: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) GDL - Stronger Cell Phone Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License (Without DE Exemption)
January 2014
NORTH CAROLINA
Highway Safety Laws Needed in North Carolina: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders
NORTH DAKOTA
Highway Safety Laws Needed in North Dakota: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - 30-50 Hours Supervised Driving Provision GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders Highway Safety Laws Needed in Ohio: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 (Without S) GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Nighttime Restriction Provision Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction (Without S)
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Oklahoma: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt (Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Cell Phone Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction Highway Safety Laws Needed in Oregon: GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License
OREGON
January 2014
46
PENNSYLVANIA
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Pennsylvania: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Stronger Cell Phone Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License (Without DE Exemption) Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders Highway Safety Laws Needed in Rhode Island: All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders
RHODE ISLAND
SOUTH CAROLINA
Highway Safety Laws Needed in South Carolina: All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Passenger Restriction Provision GDL - Cell Phone Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction Highway Safety Laws Needed in South Dakota: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law Booster Seat Law Through Age 7 GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - 6-Month Holding Period Provision (Without DE Exemption) GDL - 30-50 Hours Supervised Driving Provision GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision GDL - Cell Phone Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders Child Endangerment Law All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction
SOUTH DAKOTA
47
January 2014
TENNESSEE
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Tennessee: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Open Container Law
TEXAS
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Texas: All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Nighttime Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision (Without S) Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction
UTAH
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Utah: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License
VERMONT
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Vermont: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders Child Endangerment Law Highway Safety Laws Needed in Virginia: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Nighttime Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision (Without S) GDL - Cell Phone Restriction (Without S) Open Container Law
VIRGINIA
January 2014
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety 48
WASHINGTON
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Washington: GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Passenger Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License
WEST VIRGINIA
Highway Safety Laws Needed in West Virginia: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - 30-50 Hours Supervised Driving Provision (Without DE Exemption) GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Open Container Law Highway Safety Laws Needed in Wisconsin: All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders
WISCONSIN
WYOMING
Highway Safety Laws Needed in Wyoming: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear) All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law GDL - Minimum Age 16 for Learners Permit GDL - 6-Month Holding Period Provision GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction Provision GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License Ignition Interlock Law for All Offenders Open Container Law
49
January 2014
SOURCE INFORMATION
In developing this report, Advocates relied upon numerous research studies, statistical analyses, fact sheets and other public data. Additional information is available upon request.
American Automobile Association, Crashes vs. Congestion- What's the Cost to Society?, November 2011. American Automobile Association, Caution Ahead: New Years Ranks as Deadliest Day on US Roads, December 2012. Allstate Foundation Teen Licensing Survey, Unlikely Allies in Fight for Stronger Teen Driving Laws: Teens Themselves, 2010. Arbogast, Kristy B., Jermakian, Jessica S., Kallan, Michael J., & Durbin, Dennis R., Effectiveness of Belt Positioning Booster Seats: An Updated Assessment, Pediatrics, October 2009. Ascone, Debra, Lindsey, Tonja, & Varghese, Cherian, An Examination of Driver Distraction in NHTSA Databases, Data Reporting and Information Division, National Center for Statistics and Anaylsis, NHTSA, September 2009. Chen, Baker, Li, Graduated Driver Licensing Programs and Fatal Crashes of 16-Year-Old Drivers: A National Evaluation, Pediatrics, July 2006. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 Leading Causes of Injury Deaths by Age Group Highlighting Unintentional Injury Deaths, United States, 2010. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Helmet use among motorcyclists who died in crashes and economic cost savings associated with state motorcycle helmet laws, 2012. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Injury Prevention and Control: Motor Vehicle Safety, Get the Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Teen Driver: Fact Sheet, 2012. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vital Signs, Drinking and Driving, a Threat to Everyone, October 2011. Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia - Partners for Child Passenger Safety: Fact and Trend Report, September 2008. Coronado, VG, Xu, L, Basavaraju, SV, McGuire, LC, Wald, MM, Faul, MD, Guzman, BR, Hemphill, JD, Surveillance for Traumatic Brain InjuryRelated DeathsUnited States, 1997-2007, 2011. Durbin, D.R., Chen, I. Smith, R. Elliot, M.R., and Winston, F.K., Effects of seating position and appropriate restraint use on the risk of injury to children in motor vehicle crashes, Pediatrics 115:e305, 2005. Durbin, D.R., Elliot, M.R., and Winston, F.K., Belt-positioning booster seats and reduction in risk of injury among children in vehicle crashes, Journal of the American Medical Association 289:2835-40, 2003. Ferguson et al., Progress in Teenage Crash Risk During the Last Decade, Journal of Safety Research, 2007. Flannagan, CA, Analysis of Motorcycle Crashes: Comparison of 2012 to Previous Years, 18th Michigan Safety Summit, 2013. Government Accountability Office, Motorcycle Safety: Increasing Federal Flexibility and Identifying Research Priorities Would Help Support States Safety Efforts, Report 13-42, 2012. Harris, Lou and Peter Harris Research Group, Survey of the Attitudes of the American People of Highway and Auto Safety, June 2004. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Status Report Kids in Crashes Far Better If States Have Tough Restraint Laws, 2011.
January 2014
50
SOURCE INFORMATION, CONT.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Fatality Facts 2011, Teenagers Website Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Graduated Licensing Laws and Fatal Crashes of Teenage Drivers, A National Study, June 2010. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Watch Your Head: Michigans Weakened Helmet Use Law Leads to Costlier Injury Claims, 2013. Intoxalock Legacy Ignition Interlock Device Website. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual and SADD Study Finds Texting While Driving by Teens Not Affected by Their Awareness of the Dangers, Text Conversations with Mom and Dad on the Rise, October 2011. Lui, BC, Ivers, R., Norton, R., Boufous, S., Blows, S, Lo, SK, Helmets for Preventing Injury in Motorcycle Riders (Review), The Cochrane Library, 2009. Mayhew, D., Reducing the Crash Risk for Young Drivers, June 2006. McCartt AT, Hellinga LA, Braitman KA, Cell Phones and Driving: Review of Research, Traffic Injury Prevention, 7:89-106 (2006). McCartt AT, Mayhew DR, Braitman KA, Ferguson SA, Simpson HM. Effects of Age and Experience on Young Driver Crashes: Review of Recent Literature, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Arlington, VA (2008). McCartt, Anne T., Teoh, Eric R., Fields, Michelle, Braitman, Keli A. and Hellinga, Laurie A, Graduated Licensing Laws and Fatal Crashes of Teenage Drivers: A National Study, Traffic Injury Prevention, 11:240-248 (2010). McEvoy SP, et al, Role of Mobile Phones in Motor Vehicle Crashes Resulting in Hospital Attendance: A Case -Crossover Study, British Medical Journal; July 2005:428-432. Miller, Ted R. & Zaloshnja, Eduard, On a Crash Course: The Dangers and Health Costs of Deficient Roadways, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, commissioned by Transportation Construction Coalition, May 2009. Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Facts 2008 and 2011. Morgan, C., Effectiveness of lap/shoulder belts in the back outboard seating positions, NHTSA, DOT HS -808-945, 1999. Morse, B.J., Elliot, D.S., Hamilton County Drinking and Driving Study, 30 Month Report, 1990, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Fifth Anniversary Report to the Nation. November 2011. Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Statistics 2011. National Governors Association and National Association of State Budget Officers. The Fiscal Survey of the States: An Update of State Fiscal Conditions, Fall 2010. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Driving While Distracted Research Results, July 2010. Naumann, Rebecca B., Dellinger, Ann M., Zaloshnja, Eduard, Lawrence, Bruce A. and Miller, Ted R.(2010), Incidence and Total Lifetime Costs of Motor Vehicle-Related Fatal and Nonfatal Injury by Road User Type, United States, 2005, Traffic Injury Prevention 11:4, 353-360. New York Times. (2009) Technology Series: Driver to Distraction. Entire series can be found on this website: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/technology/series/driven_to_distraction/index.html. NHTSA, Drinking and Driving Tips, Stops by the Police, and Arrests: Analyses of the 1995 Survey of Drinking and Driving Attitudes and Behavior, DOT HS 809 184, 2000. 51 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety January 2014

NHTSA, Ignition InterlocksWhat You Need to Know: A Toolkit for Policymakers, Highway Safety Professionals, and Advocates, DOT HS 811 246, November 2009. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts: Traffic TechTechnology Transfer Series, Number 406. Determining the Relationship of Primary Seat Belt Laws to Minority Ticketing. September 2011. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts: Young Drivers, DOT HS 811 744, April 2013. NHTSA, National Evaluation of Graduated Driver Licensing Programs, DOT HS 810 614, 2006, NHTSA, Occupant Restraint Use in 2011, DOT HS 811 697, 2013. NHTSA, The Economic Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2002. NHTSA, The Nations Top Strategies to Stop Impaired Driving: Primary Seat Belt Laws, 2007. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Alcohol Impaired Driving, DOT HS 811 700, December 2012. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Children, DOT HS 811 767, July 2012. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Lives Saved in 2012 by Restraint Use and Minimum Drinking Age Laws, DOT HS 811 851, 2013. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Motorcycles, DOT HS 811 765, 2013. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Occupant Protection, DOT HS 811 729, 2013. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Young Drivers, DOT HS 811 744, 2013. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note, 2012 Motor Vehicle CrashesOverview, DOT HS 811 856, 2013. NHSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note, Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System Project Seat Belt and Helmet Analysis, 1996. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts Research Note, National Child Restraint Use Special Study, DOT HS 811 679, 2012. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note, Child Restraint Use in 2008Overall Results, DOT HS 811 135, 2009. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note, Distracted Driving 2011, DOT HS 811 737, April 2013. NTSHA, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note, Driver Electronic Device Use in 2011, DOT HS 811 719, April 2013. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note, Seat Belt Use in 2012Overall Results, DOT HS 811 691, November 2012. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note, Seat Belt Use in 2013Overall Results, DOT HS 811 875, January 2014. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts: Traffic TechTechnology Transfer Series, Number 323. Estimated Minimum Savings to a States Medicaid Budget by Implementing A Primary Seat Belt Law: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, and Missouri. March 2007. Orsay, E.M.; Muelleman, R.L.; Peterson, T.D.; Jurisic, D.H.; Kosasih, J.B.; and Levy, P. (1994), Motorcycle Helmets and Spinal Injuries: Dispelling the Myth, Annals of Emergency Medicine 23:802-06. Preusser, D.F & Tison, J. (2007), GDL Then and Now, Journal of Safety Research, 38(2), 159-163.
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Redelmeier DA, Tibshirani RJ. Association between Cellular-Telephone Calls and Motor Vehicle Collisions, The New England Journal of Medicine 1997; 336(7):453-58. Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics. State Transportation Statistics, 2009. Simon v. Sargent, D.C.Mass.1972, 346 F.Supp. 277, affirmed 39 S.Ct. 463, 409 U.S. 1020, 34 L.Ed.2d 312. Strayer DL, Drews FA, Crouch DJ, A Comparison of the Cell Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver, Human Factors 2006; 48:381-391. Sun, K., Bauer, M.J., Hardman, S., Effects of Upgraded Child Restraint Law Designed to Increase Booster Seat Use in New York, Pediatrics, 2010. Vogel, Steve, Teen Driver Menace: Text Messaging- Studies Show Texting While Driving Is Epidemic, Parenting Teens, October 22, 2007. Weiss, Harold, Ph.D., MPH, MS, Agimi, Yl, MPH, and Steiner, Claudia, MD, MPH, Youth Motorcycle -Related Brain Injury by State Helmet Law Type: United States 2005 2007, Pediatrics, November 2010. Williams, A.F. (2007), Contribution of the Components of Graduated Licensing to Crash Reductions, Journal of Safety Research, 38(2), 177-184. Williams, A.F., Braitman, K.A., and McCartt, A.T., Views of Parents of Teenagers about Licensing Policies: a National Survey, 2010. The Wireless Association, Wireless Quick Facts, Year End Figures, CTIA. Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Mobility Accountability Preservation Safety Service Performance Improvement Report, 2013.
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January 2014

Organizations:
Thanks to the many individuals and organizations whose websites and staff provided background and state law information for The 2014 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws.
American Automobile Association (AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety www.aaafoundation.org American Public Health Association (APHA) www.apha.org Brain Injury Association of America www.biausa.org Federal Highway Administration www.fhwa.dot.gov Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration www.fmcsa.dot.gov Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) www.ghsa.org Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) www.iihs.org Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) www.madd.org National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) www.ncsl.org National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Center for Statistics and Analysis www.nhtsa.dot.gov National Safety Council www.nsc.org National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) www.ntsb.gov Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) www.sadd.org Traffic Injury Research Foundation www.trafficinjuryresearch.com U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) www.cdc.gov Virginia Tech Transportation Institute www.vtti.vt.edu West Virginia University Injury Control Research Center www.hsc.wvu.edu/icrc
January 2014
54
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Advocates would like to thank Cathy Barzey, Cathy Chase, Allison Creagan Frank, Lisa Drew, Henry Jasny, Shaun Kildare and Peter Kurdock for their contributions to The 2014 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws. Also, special thanks to Jamie Douglas of DAYLIGHT for the cover design.
ABOUT ADVOCATES
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety is an alliance of consumer, health and safety groups and insurance companies and agents working together to make America's roads safer. Advocates encourages the adoption of federal and state laws, policies and programs that save lives and reduce injuries. By joining its resources with others, Advocates helps build coalitions to increase participation of a wide array of groups in public policy initiatives which advance highway and auto safety.. For more information, please visit www.saferoads.org. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety 750 First Street, NE, Suite 901 Washington, D.C. 20002 202-408-1711 Follow us on Twitter: @SafeRoadsNow
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January 2014

2014 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws

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Lives saved. Injuries prevented. Costs contained. What a difference 25 years makes.

2014 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws

11 ANNUAL ROADMAP OF STATE HIGHWAY SAFETY LAWS

Jacqueline S. Gillan, President

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO IMPROVE HIGHWAY SAFETY

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

25 YEARS OF ADVOCATES IN ACTION

All-Driver Text Messaging Restrictions 1989: 0 2014: 37+DC

All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Laws 1989: 22+DC 2014: 19+DC

Booster Seat Laws 1989: 0 2014: 31+DC

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

SAFETY LAWS REDUCE CRASH COSTS

LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY IN 2013

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

KEY THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS REPORT

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

WHATS NEW IN THIS YEARS REPORT

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

DEFINITIONS OF 15 LIFESAVING LAWS

Child Passenger Safety

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

DEFINITIONS OF 15 LIFESAVING LAWS (CONT.)

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT SEAT BELT LAWS

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT SEAT BELT LAWS

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

ALL-RIDER MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAWS

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

ALL-RIDER MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAWS

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

OCCUPANT PROTECTION LAWS RATING CHART

Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear Seat)

All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law

Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front Seat)

Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear Seat)

All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

BOOSTER SEAT LAWS

BOOSTER SEAT LAWS RATING CHART

Booster Seat Law

Booster Seat Law

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

TEEN DRIVING: GRADUATED DRIVER

State has at least 5 of 7 optimal GDL provisions

State has 2 to 4 of the 7 optimal GDL provisions

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

TEEN DRIVING LAWS

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

TEEN DRIVING LAWS

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

TEEN DRIVING LAWS RATING CHART

6-Month Holding Period