Archive

Archive for the ‘Governors Highway Safety Association’ Category

New Study: No Progress in Reducing Motorcyclist Deaths

May 24, 2012 Comments off

New Study: No Progress in Reducing Motorcyclist Deaths
Source: Governors Highway Safety Association

A report released today by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) finds that no progress was made in reducing motorcyclist deaths in 2011. Based upon preliminary data from 50 states and the District of Columbia, GHSA projects that motorcycle fatalities remained at about 4,500 in 2011, the same level as 2010. Meanwhile, earlier this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration projected that overall motor vehicle fatalities declined 1.7 percent in 2011, reaching their lowest level since 1949. Motorcycle deaths remain one of the few areas in highway safety where progress is not being made.

The new report – the first state-by-state look at motorcycle fatalities occurring in 2011 – was authored by Dr. James Hedlund of Highway Safety North. Most states have reasonably complete fatality counts for at least the first nine months of 2011, enabling GHSA to confidently project the full year. Dr. Hedlund completed similar projections for GHSA in 2009 and 2010, with both being very close to the final fatality numbers.

Comparing the first nine months of 2010 to 2011, motorcyclist fatalities decreased in twenty-three states, with notable declines in many. In Connecticut, for example, motorcycle deaths dropped 37 percent, while in New York and North Carolina they fell 16 and 21 percent, respectively.

+ Motorcyclist Traffic Fatalities by State: 2011 Preliminary Data

Categories: death, Governors Highway Safety Association, lists and rankings, motor vehicles, safety

New Study: Teen Driver Deaths Increase in 2011

February 20, 2012 Comments off

New Study: Teen Driver Deaths Increase in 2011
Source: Governors Highway Safety Association

A report released today by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reveals that the number of 16- and 17-year-old driver deaths in passenger vehicles increased slightly for the first six months of 2011, based on preliminary data supplied by all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Overall, 16- and 17-year-old driver deaths increased from 190 to 211 – an 11 percent increase. If the trend continued for the second half of 2011, it will mark the end of eight straight years of cumulative declines in deaths for this age group.

The new report – the first state-by-state look at teen fatalities in 2011 – was completed by Dr. Allan Williams, a researcher who formerly served as chief scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Dr. Williams surveyed GHSA members, who reported fatality numbers for every state and D.C. The report comes as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released a statistical projection suggesting that total motor vehicle deaths for the first six months of 2011 declined 0.9 percent.

Deaths of 16-year-old drivers increased from 80 to 93 (16 percent) while the number for 17-year-olds went from 110 to 118 (7 percent), a cumulative increase of 11 percent. Twenty-three states reported increases, 19 had decreases, and eight states and the District of Columbia reported no change. While the changes in state-by-state fatality numbers generally are small, states such as Florida, Texas and North Carolina reported significant increases.

+ Full Report

Categories: adolescents, death, Governors Highway Safety Association, motor vehicles, safety

Distracted Driving: What Research Shows and What States Can Do

July 15, 2011 Comments off

Distracted Driving: What Research Shows and What States Can Do
Source: Governors Highway Safety Association

Produced with funding from State Farm®, this report reviews and summarizes distracted driving research for states as they consider distracted driving countermeasures.

It includes discussion on: what distracted driving is; how often drivers are distracted; how it impacts driver performance and crash risk; what countermeasures may be most effective; and what states can do to reduce distracted driving.

The report outlines the some distracted driving certainties, concludes that states should absolutely undertake four specific countermeasures, and also lists countermeasures that states should consider.

+ Summary (PDF)
+ Full Report (PDF)

Categories: government and politics, Governors Highway Safety Association, legal and law enforcement, public safety
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 632 other followers