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Advocates’ 2023 Public Opinion Poll on Autonomous Vehicles
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

    See the full results of the Caravan public opinion poll commissioned by Advocates.

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Bios: Expert Panel on Autonomous Vehicle Safety March 7, 2023
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Virtual Capitol Hill Briefing: Expert Panel on Autonomous Vehicle Safety | March 7, 2023 Panel speakers in alphabetical order Anna Buhlinger, Federal Affairs Director, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) Ms. Buhlinger joined NAMIC in November after serving at…

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Letter: Support South Carolina SB 36/HB 3845
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Advocates supports South Carolina Senate Bill (SB) 36/House Bill (HB) 3845 to require the use of ignition interlock devices (IIDs) by all convicted drunk drivers, including first time offenders. Read the full letter here.      

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Advocates Supports SC Bill for Use of Ignition Interlock Devices
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Read the Advocates’ letter to the South Carolina House Judiciary Committee in support of Senate Bill (SB) 36/ House Bill (HB) 3845.

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Urgent Action Needed: Oppose Repeal of TN All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Requirement
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

On March 1, the Tennessee House Transportation Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Senate Bill 1450/House Bill 42 which would repeal the all-rider motorcycle helmet requirement and reduce the law to secondary enforcement. Advocates urges action!  Call or email subcommittee…

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Advocates Opposes Legislation Repealing Tennessee’s All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law
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Read Advocates’ letter to the Tennessee House Transportation Subcommittee in advance of an upcoming hearing on SB 1450/HB 42.  

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Advocates supports .05% BAC Legislation in Connecticut
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Read Advocates’ letter to the Connecticut Joint Committee on Transportation in support of Senate Bill (SB) 1082. Full letter here. This legislation will make Connecticut’s roads safer for all by lowering the limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) while driving…

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Invitation to Attend Virtual Capitol Hill Briefing: Expert Panel on Autonomous Vehicles March 7, 2023
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Virtual Capitol Hill Briefing: Expert Panel on Autonomous Vehicles March 7, 2023 10 a.m. EST Click here for an invitation to attend  The live briefing will be moderated by Cathy Chase, President of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. Panelists…

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Advocates Supports New Legislation to Expand California’s Existing GDL Law
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Read Advocates’ letter to California State Senator Allen in support of Senate Bill 473.

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Advocates Opposes Speed Limit Increase in North Dakota
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Read Advocates’ letter to the North Dakota Senate Transportation Committee regarding House Bill 1475. 

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Advocates Supports Legislation to Establish a Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law in North Dakota
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Read Advocates’ letter to the North Dakota House Transportation Committee regarding Senate Bill 2362. 

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Advocates Encourages a Comprehensive Seat Belt Law in New Hampshire
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Read information from Advocates on the importance of comprehensive seat belt laws in light of the introduction of House Bill 222 in New Hampshire. 

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Advocates Joins Robust Coalition Pushing for an Upgrade to Maryland’s Ignition Interlock Device Law
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Read our coalition letter to the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and House Judiciary Committee regarding Senate Bill 528 and House Bill 451. 

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Statement of Cathy Chase, President, on Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Picks for 2023
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Statement of Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), on Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Picks for 2023  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 23, 2023  Today, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released its initial…

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Vehicle Safety Provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
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Read Advocates’ update on IIJA provisions and omissions.

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Advocates’ Letter of Support for Provisions P and K in NY S4008/A3008
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Read Advocates’ letter to the New York State Legislature in support of new traffic provisions.

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Advocates’ Letter of Support to Hawaii State Senate on SB 160
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Read Advocates’ letter to the Hawaii State Senate in support of Senate Bill 160.

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Advocates Supports .05 BAC Legislation in Hawaii
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Read Advocates’ letter to the Hawaii Senate Committee on Judiciary in support of Senate Bill (SB) 160 and House Bill (HB) 1469. Full letter here. This legislation will make Hawaii’s roads safer for all by lowering the limit for blood…

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Advocates’ Letter of Support to Missouri Senate Transportation Committee on SB 61
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Read Advocates’ letter to the Missouri State Senate Transportation Committee in support of Senate Bill 61.

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Advocates’ Letter of Support for New Jersey S.2789/A.3793
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Read Advocates’ letter to the New Jersey Senate Transportation Committee in support of Senate Bill 2789. 

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Advocates’ Letter to Missouri Senate in Support of Senate Bill 61
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Read our letter on Missouri Senate Bill 61 here.

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Advocates’ Letter to New Hampshire House Transportation Committee on HB 386
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Read our letter to the New Hampshire House Transportation Committee on HB 386 here. 

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Advocates’ Letter to House Energy and Commerce Subcmte. on Innovation, Data, and Commerce for hearing, “Economic Danger Zone: How America Competes to Win the Future Versus China”
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Read Advocates’ Letter to E&C Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee.

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Advocates’ Letter to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for hearing, “The State of Transportation Infrastructure and Supply Chain Challenges”
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Read Advocates’ Letter in advance of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s upcoming hearing, “The State of Transportation Infrastructure and Supply Chain Challenges.”

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Advocates Supports Proven Safety Upgrades in CT HB5917
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See our letter to the Connecticut State Legislature Joint Committee on Transportation on House Bill (HB) 5917, legislation that would require the use of helmets by all motorcycle riders, improve the use of automated enforcement systems, and strengthen existing law…

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Letter: Support Connecticut House Bill (HB) 5917
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Advocates urges support for provisions in Connecticut House Bill (HB) 5917 to prohibit open containers of alcohol in the passenger compartment of vehicles, to require the use of helmets by all motorcycle riders, and to improve use of automated enforcement…

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Advocates and a strong coalition oppose bill to repeal NE motorcycle helmet requirement
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

See the press release, “Highway Safety Coalition Urges Unicameral to Keep Current Helmet Law.” See Advocates’ letter, Nebraska Legislative Bill 91. See the fact sheet, “Motorcycle Helmets Save Lives: Oppose LB 91 Which Seeks to Repeal the Current Law.”  

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Groups Urge Support for NJ GDL Upgrade
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See Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety’s letter in support of NJ Assembly Bill (A) 3793 / Senate Bill (S) 2789 to improve the current graduated driver licensing (GDL) law for novice drivers by requiring supervised driving hours for novice…

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Orgs Join to Urge Support for WA .05% BAC Bill
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

See our letter to the Washington State Legislature Senate Law and Justice Committee on Senate Bill (SB) 5002 to lower the limit of alcohol-impaired driving to .05% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) here. See our coalition letter to the Washington State…

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Statement on New Traffic Fatality & Economic Cost Data
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CONTACT: Allison Kennedy / [email protected] / 360-281-7033 (C) Statement of Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), on Traffic Fatality Data for First Nine Months of 2022 and Economic and Societal Costs of Traffic Crashes FOR IMMEDIATE…

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Statement on Signing of Distracted Driving Upgrade Into Law in OH
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 3, 2023 CONTACT: Allison Kennedy / [email protected] / 360-281-7033 (C) Statement of Tara Gill, Sr. Director Advocacy and State Legislation, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), on Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) Signing Distracted Driving Upgrade Into…

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Statement on Impaired Driving Study & Holiday Driving Dangers
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 13, 2022  CONTACT: Allison Kennedy / [email protected] / 360-281-7033 (C) Statement of Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), on New NHTSA Study on Impaired Driving and Increased Dangers during the December Holiday…

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Roadmap to Safety Details Comprehensive Plan to Prevent Crashes
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, December 6, 2022 FOR NEWS CONFERENCE VIDEO CLICK HERE CONTACT: Allison Kennedy, [email protected], 360-281-7033 Bill Bronrott, [email protected], 202-270-4415   20th Edition Roadmap to Safety Report Details a Comprehensive Plan to Prevent Crashes, Fatalities and Injuries  With…

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Advocates Recognizes Safety Leaders
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 6, 2022  CONTACT: Allison Kennedy / [email protected] / 360-281-7033 (C) Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) Recognizes Safety Leaders Today, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) will bestow awards to a number of recipients…

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Media Alert — Release of the 2023 Roadmap to Safety on 12/6
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MEDIA ALERT CONTACT: Bill Bronrott, 202-270-4415, [email protected] 2023 “Roadmap to Safety” Report to Rate 50 States & DC on Passage of Top Traffic Safety Laws to Curb Rising Deaths Best & Worst States plus a Comprehensive Blueprint to Improve Roadway Safety…

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Senators Write NHTSA on IIJA Safety Provisions
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 15, 2022 CONTACT: Allison Kennedy / [email protected] / 360-281-7033 (C) Statement from Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), on the Letter Sent by 10 Senators Urging Action on Infrastructure Investment and Jobs…

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Statement on One Year Anniversary of the Signing of the IIJA
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 15, 2022 CONTACT: Allison Kennedy / [email protected] / 360-281-7033 (C) Statement from Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), On the One Year Anniversary of the Signing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs…

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Statement on the STOP Frontovers Act
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 24, 2022 CONTACT: Allison Kennedy / [email protected] / 360-281-7033 (C)   Statement from Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, on the STOP Frontovers Act  New legislation would help prevent tragic frontover incidents.  …

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Strengthen NJ GDL Law to Reduce Crashes, Injuries & Deaths in NJ
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News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lauren Paterno, 516-873-2266, [email protected] Strengthen NJ GDL Law to Reduce Crashes, Injuries & Deaths in NJ Partners for Practice Hours Advocates for Enhanced Young Driver Training WAYNE, N.J., October 19, 2022 — During National…

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Orgs join to oppose NJ bills which would undermine use of AE
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See our letter to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee, New Jersey Legislature, on S 460 / A 4343 here.

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Statement on Safety Events in October
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 14, 2022 CONTACT: Allison Kennedy / [email protected] / 360-281-7033 (C) Statement from Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, on Featured Safety Events in October, including National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 16 –…

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Statement on Pedestrian Safety Month
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2022 CONTACT: Allison Kennedy / [email protected] / 360-281-7033 (C) Statement from Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, on Pedestrian Safety Month (October 2022) Pedestrian fatalities spiked 13 percent last year following multiyear…

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Statement on New Study from IIHS on Impaired Driving
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 20, 2022 CONTACT: Allison Kennedy / [email protected] / 360-281-7033 (C) Statement of Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), on New Study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on Impaired Driving…

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Statement on Traffic Fatality Increases in First Half of 2022
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 19, 2022 CONTACT: Allison Kennedy / [email protected] / 360-281-7033 (C) Statement of Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), on Traffic Fatality Increases in First Half of 2022 Today, the National Highway Traffic…

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Labor Day Weekend Statement
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This Labor Day, Advocates thanks all workers whose “office” is the roadway and calls upon NHTSA to reduce the horrific fatality and injury toll with swift action on comprehensive requirements for lifesaving technology.

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New York Times Letter to the Editor: Go Slow on Driverless Cars
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

On August 28, 2022 the New York Times published a letter to the editor by Cathy Chase, President of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) and Joan Claybrook, former Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): “Go Slow on Driverless Cars.”

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Petition for Reconsideration of the Final Rule on Rear Impact Guards
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Petitioners request a stay of the effective date of the Final Rule until the Administrator can render a decision on this Petition for Reconsideration. In sum, the Final Rule is not in the public interest and failed to properly consider available data and testing resulting in NHTSA issuing an inadequate and dangerous performance standard for underride guards.

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Letter to the Editor: San Francisco Shows Need for AV Regulation
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Excerpt: “San Francisco offers an early glimpse into the likely treacherous course of AV technology in the absence of a thorough and deliberate process that addresses known dangers and unintended consequences posed by wide-scale deployment. Thorough data collection and transparency combined with standards that establish a baseline for safety are essential. Policymakers should heed the experience in San Francisco, and other known failures and crashes across the country, to comprehensively address AV safety through regulation and oversight.”

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Statement on First Quarter Traffic Fatality Increases in 2022
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The escalating emergency on our roads is an urgent call to action.  President Joe Biden, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg, NHTSA Administrator Steve Cliff and their teams must advance proven and available solutions immediately.

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Safety Groups Urge Swift Nomination of a New NHTSA Administrator
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Safety group letter sent by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, AAA, GHSA, MADD and NSC to President Joe Biden (D).

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Advocates and Kids and Car Safety Urge Action on MA CPS Bills
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See our letter to Massachusetts Senate and House leadership urging action on S. 1592/A. 2446.

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Statement on National Stop on Red Week 2022
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Advocates commends National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) President Melissa Wandall for her ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the dangers posed by red light running and the need to advance proven solutions to curb this persistent threat on our roadways.  In 2020, 928 people were killed in red light running crashes, half of which were pedestrians, bicyclists and people in vehicles other than the vehicle running the red light.  Red light running is a serious issue in need of substantiated solutions.

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Statement Opposing Legislation to Stop Impaired Driving Prevention Technology Rulemaking
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Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) strongly opposes legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD), Mike Braun (R-IN) and John Cornyn (R-TX), S.4647*, that would eliminate one of the most important safety provisions in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, Pub. L. 117-58).  The IIJA, which was signed into law last November, directs the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule requiring impaired driving prevention technology in new passenger motor vehicles by 2024.  Research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) finds that such technology could save more than 9,000 lives every year if widely deployed.  S.4647 would halt progress toward requiring this lifesaving technology as standard equipment and must be rejected by Congress.

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Advocates Urges Swift Implementation of Vehicle & Roadway Safety Measures in Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
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The safety advances included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and continued action on other Congressionally mandated safety countermeasures must be implemented by the U.S. DOT in a comprehensive and expeditious manner.

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Statement on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Final Rule on Rear Underride Guards for Trailers and Semi-Trailers
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Today the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a final rule on safety standards for rear underride guards for trailers and semi-trailers.  The result of the rulemaking process, which was initiated in 2015, is a completely inadequate standard that will make road users less safe and undermines the Biden Administration’s stated goal of working towards zero roadway deaths.

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Statement Opposing Amendment to FY 2023 Appropriations Bill Degrading Truck Safety Rules
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Today, the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations adopted an amendment as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and Related Agencies funding bill that will exacerbate known safety dangers associated with large trucks.  The amendment, offered by Representative Steve Womack (R-AR) and passed by the Committee on a voice vote, exempts livestock and insect haulers from a rule requiring the use of electronic logging devices (ELD).

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Statement on July 4th Travel and Roadway Safety
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Crowded highways which continue to be plagued by increases in reckless driving are a recipe for disaster.  Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) urges swift action at both the federal and state levels on proven safety measures to reduce crashes, prevent injuries and save lives.

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Response to Washington Post Editorial on Safety Concerns with Automated Driving Technology
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The deadly state of our roadways requires swift action by NHTSA to address known safety threats, such as those identified in The Washington Post’s editorial, while also promulgating standards for proven advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

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Statement on FY 2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations
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As the appropriations process moves forward, it is imperative that current safety protections be preserved.  Special interest carve-outs for segments of the trucking industry have no place “riding” on an important funding bill.

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Statement on New Rule Improving Child Passenger Safety and Proposed Rule on the Operation of Event Data Recorders (EDR)
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Today the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) took the commendable steps of issuing a Final Rule on side impact protection for children seated in child restraints and a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the operation of event data recorders (EDR), devices that provide invaluable information about motor vehicle crashes.  Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) urges the agency to continue working to address the existing backlog of overdue congressionally mandated vehicle safety rules and move forward expeditiously on vehicle safety directives in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, Pub. L. 117-58).

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Joint Press Release on NHTSA’s Release of Crash Data Involving Vehicles with Automated Driving Technology
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Today safety leaders in Congress as well as safety and bicycle advocates applauded the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for taking the necessary step of releasing crash data on vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that are rated as Level 2 per SAE International and vehicles with automated driving system (ADS) capabilities (SAE Levels 3 – 5).

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Press Conference on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Release of Data on Crashes Involving Vehicles with Automated Driving Technology
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

On June 15, 2022, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), joined by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward Markey (D-MA), U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), the League of American Bicyclists and former Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Joan Claybrook discussed the release of data on crashes involving vehicles equipped with partial or fully automated driving technology. 

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MEDIA ALERT: Members of Congress and Safety and Bicyclist Advocates to Address the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Data Release on Crashes Involving Vehicles Equipped with Partial or Fully Automated Driving Technology
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), joined by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward Markey (D-MA), U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), the League of American Bicyclists and former Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Joan Claybrook will discuss the release of data on crashes involving vehicles equipped with partial or fully automated driving technology.

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Comments Submitted to the Federal Register on Upgrades to the U.S. New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)
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On June 8, 2022 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) and the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) filed comments to the federal register detailing proposed upgrades to the U.S. New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).  The comments describe in great detail how NCAP can be improved to achieve its stated purpose of educating consumers on vehicle safety and incentivizing automakers to improve the safety of their products.

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Advocates Urges Congress to Prioritize Infrastructure Upgrades and Proven Vehicle Safety Technology in Letter Submitted to House Hearing on Roadway Safety
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

We laud the Subcommittee for holding this hearing as the recent data released from NHTSA illustrates the depth of the public health crisis on America’s roads. Infrastructure upgrades coupled with proven vehicle safety technology can help to improve these grim statistics. We look forward to continuing to work with the Members of this Subcommittee to improve public safety.

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Advocates Urges California Lawmakers to Upgrade the State’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Law
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

This legislation will improve the current graduated driver licensing (GDL) law for novice young drivers by requiring participation in the state’s program by older teen and young adult novice drivers up to age 21. California law only covers teenagers up to age 18, leaving other at-risk young novice drivers, and all those who share the roads with them, unnecessarily exposed to a high risk of preventable crashes.

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New Jersey High School Students Urge Lawmakers to Upgrade the State’s Seat Belt Law
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

On May 26, 2022, the Bergen Record of New Jersey published a letter to the editor penned by student members of Indian Hills High School’s “Click Clack Front and Back” club.  The letter highlights the serious issue of traffic safety and urges New Jersey lawmakers to upgrade the state’s seat belt law to primary enforcement for all vehicle occupants.

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Statement on Memorial Day Travel and Roadway Safety
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

During the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend, more than 39 million people are expected to drive 50 miles or more from home, according to AAA. The predicted increase means miles traveled by car may reach near pre-pandemic levels. This forecast coupled with the announcement by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that nearly 43,000 people died on U.S. roadways in 2021 must serve as a blaring cautionary alarm to all those who will be driving, biking, walking or rolling this coming weekend.

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Statement on 2021 Crash Fatalities and the Growing Public Health Crisis on U.S. Roadways
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

The latest fatality estimates released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirm that our nation experienced a horrific spike of motor vehicle crash deaths on our roadways.  Last year, 42,915 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes, a 10.5 percent increase from 2020, and the highest amount since 2005.  Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) agrees with NHTSA Deputy Administrator Dr. Steven Cliff, who is calling this crisis on our roadways “urgent and preventable.”  An equally urgent response to advance vehicle and roadway safety upgrades is needed.

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Advocates Urges New York State Senate to Enact Used Car Safety Bill
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

This legislation will help eliminate the dangerous and potentially deadly problem of unrepaired recalls which is especially critical as vehicle safety recalls continue to proliferate. Nearly 35 million vehicles were subject to recall in 2021, according to the latest data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

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Advocates Urges California Lawmakers to Enact Legislation to Improve the State’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Law
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

AB 2388 is timely legislation to help curb traffic fatalities as a significant number of teens today are delaying obtaining a driver’s license and, consequently, are not benefitting from GDL programs according to research by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CHOP CIRP) and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

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Statement on the Passing of Former U.S. Transportation Secretary and Congressman Norman Mineta
552 363 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) is saddened to learn of the passing of Norman Mineta.  His contributions as a member of Congress from California, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) during the George W. Bush Administration, and beyond leave an eternal safety legacy.

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Group Letter on FY 2023 U.S. Department of Transportation Budget
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Highway crashes impose a tremendous cost burden on society estimated to exceed one trillion dollars annually. Sufficient funding and resources for NHTSA can be the catalyst for implementing effective safety countermeasures to prevent crashes, save lives, reduce injuries, and contain costs.

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Statement on Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, an annual event to focus on reducing the persistent death and injury toll due to motorcycle crashes.  In 2020, the number of motorcycle riders killed, 5,579, was the largest in a single year since data collection began in 1975.  This was also an alarming 11 percent increase from 2019 and accounted for 14 percent of all roadway deaths. 

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Leading up to National Heatstroke Prevention Day (May 1), Members of Congress, Safety Advocates and Families Affected by Hot Car Deaths Stress the Urgent Need for Effective Hot Car Technology
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

In November 2021, IIJA was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden.  It includes a provision that addresses hot car tragedies by requiring an ‘audio and visual reminder alert to check the back seat’ in new passenger vehicles. Unfortunately, the provision does not specify the requirement for the system to detect a child alone in a vehicle. Without detection, a system will be inadequate. A reminder alert alone falls short of what is needed to prevent hot car deaths and injuries and creates a false sense of security for families.

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Remarks by Cathy Chase at Press Conference on Occupant Detection and Alert Technology to Prevent Hot Car Deaths and Injuries
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Safety technology that detects and alerts to the presence of unattended children must be required as standard equipment on all new passenger vehicles. Absent requiring that new cars be equipped with a system to detect occupants in the whole passenger compartment, children will continue to be imperiled and families will be left with a false sense of security.

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Media Alert: Press Conference on Advancing the Child Protection “Hot Cars” Mandate in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

With temperatures rising as summer quickly approaches, the risk is even greater. Cost-effective safety solutions are readily available that can reduce these grim numbers. In preparation for National Heatstroke Prevention Day on May 1st, we must intensify our efforts and leverage the promise of safety technology to prevent these predictable tragedies.

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Maryland Takes Action to Upgrade Child Passenger Safety
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

On April 22, 2022, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) signed Senate Bill (SB) 176 into law, strengthening Maryland’s child occupant protection statute.  This law requires children to remain rear facing in a child safety seat until age two or older or until they outgrow the specifications of the safety seat.

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Advocates Urges California Lawmakers to Pass Drunk Driving Legislation
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

SB 1021 would add sensible safeguards to the current law by limiting diversion agreements to first time offenders once every ten years, requiring use of ignition interlock devices IIDs by diversion participants and first-time offenders not granted diversion, and impose a compliance-based removal of the IID.

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Group Letters Urge New York State Legislature to Support Legislation Lowering the Alcohol-Impaired Driving Limit to .05% BAC
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

On April 1, 2022 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and a broad group of stakeholders sent letters to the Transportation Committees in the New York State Legislature urging support for Senate Bill (S.) 131 and Assembly Bill (A.) 7197, which would lower the alcohol-impaired driving limit in the state to .05 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC). 

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Statement on New Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Ratings Program for Seat Belt Reminders
150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) commends the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for implementing a new ratings program on seat belt reminder systems in passenger vehicles.  The evaluations provide invaluable information to consumers seeking the safest seat belt reminder systems.  The IIHS estimates up to 1,500 lives a year could be saved by improved seat belt reminders.

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Statement on Distracted Driving Awareness Month
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Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) calls on state legislatures and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to confront distracted driving head-on and eradicate a leading contributor to crash deaths on our nation’s roads.  In 2020, motor vehicle crash fatalities skyrocketed including 3,142 people killed in crashes involving distraction, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 

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Selective Insurance and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety Release National Survey Leading into Distracted Driving Awareness Month
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Nearly three-quarters (70%) of licensed drivers used a mobile device while driving for personal reasons in the past 90 days, according to a new survey commissioned by Selective Insurance (“Selective”) and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (“Advocates”) and conducted online by The Harris Poll earlier this month among over 2,000 U.S. adults, of whom over 1,800 are licensed drivers. This alarmingly high number rose even further among Americans who drive for work, with 86% reporting mobile device use when driving for work in the last three months.

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Advocates & Kids and Car Safety Urge Missouri Lawmakers to Pass Legislation Upgrading the State’s Distracted Driving Law
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Missouri is one of only two states that has yet to enact a ban on texting for all drivers. The state also has not taken action to further restrict mobile device use by novice, inexperienced young drivers. More can and should be done to reduce the prevalence of visual, manual and cognitive driver distraction caused by device use.

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Advocates Urges the Louisiana House of Representatives to Upgrade the State’s Distracted Driving Law
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While Louisiana has taken steps to deter this deadly conduct by enacting a prohibition on texting behind the wheel and on the use of devices by novice, young drivers, more can and should be done to reduce the prevalence of visual, manual and cognitive driver distraction caused by device use.

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Advocates Urges Senate Commerce Committee to Reject Anti-Safety Truck Amendments to the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (S. 3580)
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In 2020, nearly 5,000 people were killed in crashes involving a large truck.  Since 2009, the number of fatalities in large truck crashes has increased by 47 percent.  Additionally, nearly 147,000 people were injured in crashes involving a large truck that same year.  The cost to society from crashes involving large trucks and buses was estimated to be $163 billion in 2019, the latest year for which data is available.  Truck driving is one of the most dangerous occupations. 

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Statement on New Research Showing Large Passenger Vehicle Dangers to Pedestrians in Intersections
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Walking across the street should not be a death-defying act.  The data presented by IIHS strengthens the case for adoption of the Safe System Approach to protect pedestrians and other vulnerable road users (VRUs), especially given trends in the U.S. passenger fleet toward larger vehicles and the historically high number of pedestrians killed in 2020, 6,500.

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Safety Groups Urge Maryland Lawmakers to Reject Bill That Would Repeal the State’s All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Requirement
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On March 15, 2022, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), the Emergency Nurses Association (MDENA), Partnership for a Safer Maryland and the Skilled Motorcyclist Association – Responsible, Trained and Educated Riders, Inc. (SMARTER), submitted a statement to the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee opposing Senate Bill (SB) 745, legislation that would repeal Maryland’s all-rider motorcycle helmet law.

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Statement on Revisions to Rules for Protecting Occupants in Vehicles with Automated Driving Systems (ADS)
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Streamlining compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) for auto manufacturers should not sacrifice the safety of everyone in and around the cars they’re selling.  At a bare minimum, vehicles with ADS must be required to provide the same levels of occupant protection required in passenger vehicles.

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Statement on Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Actions on Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Testing Rules
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Truck driving is one of the most dangerous professions in the U.S.  In this exceedingly hazardous roadway environment, policy makers should be advancing proven solutions to enhance large truck safety.  Today’s actions by the FMCSA ended two ill-conceived and unsafe proposals.  Advocates looks forward to additional actions by the Agency to address the preventable carnage experienced on our streets and highways.

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Joint Statement on Proposed Update of U.S. NCAP
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2022 CONTACT: Allison Kennedy / Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety / [email protected] / 360-281-7033 (C) Joint Statement on Proposed Update of U.S. New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration…

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Statement on on 2020 Crash Deaths and Injuries Report
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Each of the 38,824 persons killed leaves tremendous voids in the lives of their loved ones, their children, parents, spouses, friends and communities.  There is no excuse for inaction or delay by our federal and state leaders.

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Advocates Urges California Lawmakers to Upgrade the State’s Graduated Driver Licensing Law (GDL)
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On March 1, 2022, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) sent a letter to the California Assembly Committee on Transportation, urging support for Assembly Bill (AB) 2388.  This legislation would improve the current graduated driver licensing (GDL) law for novice teen drivers by requiring participation in the state’s program by older teen and young adult novice drivers up to age 21.  California law only covers teenagers up to age 18.

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Advocates and the Skilled Motorcyclist Association Urge Tennessee Lawmakers to Preserve the State’s All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law
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For nearly 55 years, this critical law has been preventing deaths and injuries and saving taxpayer dollars in Tennessee. To repeal the all-rider helmet law would be a deadly and costly mistake.

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Advocates Urges Missouri Senate to Upgrade the State’s Distracted Driving Law
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On February 25, 2022 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) sent a letter to the Missouri Senate Committee on Transportation, Safety and Infrastructure urging support for Senate Bill (SB) 713 to curb distracted driving.  Missouri is one of only two states that has yet to enact a ban on texting for all drivers.  Nor has the state taken action to further curb use by novice, inexperienced young drivers. 

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Advocates Urges Maryland General Assembly to Upgrade Child Passenger Safety Law
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Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)). Maryland’s current child passenger safety law requires children under age seven and less than 57 inches in height to use a child safety seat. Since that law was enacted, new research has been conducted and best practices in child passenger protection have been updated, calling for requirements that make further specifications related to stages of physical development from infancy through early childhood.

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Advocates Urges Alabama to Upgrade its Distracted Driving Law
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On February 22, 2022, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) sent a letter to the leadership of the Alabama House of Representatives urging lawmakers to upgrade the state’s distracted driving laws.  While Alabama has taken steps to deter this deadly conduct by enacting a prohibition on texting behind the wheel and on the use of devices by novice, young drivers, more can and should be done to reduce the prevalence of visual, manual and cognitive driver distraction caused by device use.

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Statement on Updated Safety Standard Permitting Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) Technology
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While this action is overdue and much needed, the lack of a requirement for ADB in the final rule means widespread deployment will be unnecessarily protracted and automakers can continue to upcharge for the safer headlamps limiting access to those who can afford the additional expense.

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Group Letter Urges Support for Legislation Upgrading Kentucky’s Distracted Driving Law
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On February 17, 2022, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) sent a group letter to the Kentucky House Standing Committee on Banking and Insurance Members urging support for House Bill (HB) 258 which would upgrade the state’s distracted driving law.

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Group Letter Urges Support for Legislation in Hawaii Lowering the Limit of Alcohol-Impaired Driving to .05 Percent Blood Alcohol Concentration
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On February 17, 2022 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Adv0cates) sent a group letter to the Hawaii Senate Committee on Judiciary urging support for Senate Bill (SB) 2096 and House Bill (HB) 1437, legislation that would lower the limit of alcohol-impaired driving in Hawaii to .05 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

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