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New Jersey Star-Ledger Letter to the Editor on Distracted Driving
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On April 7, 2021 the New Jersey Star-Ledger published a letter to the editor by Cathy Chase, President of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) and New Jersey Assemblyman Nicholas Chiaravalloti (D-31st), on the issue of distracted driving.

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Statement on Distracted Driving Awareness Month
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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April Fools’ Day marks the start of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, but distracted driving is no joke.  It remains a leading contributor to motor vehicle crashes, deaths and injuries.  Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) calls for decisive action on a comprehensive strategy to curb distraction behind the wheel.

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Major Group Letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Advancing Essential Auto Safety Upgrades
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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We look forward to working with you to ensure that every person in every state on every road for every mode of travel will be provided equitable transportation protections. Meaningfully addressing the current inequitable physical, emotional, and economic toll of motor vehicle crashes is achievable now.

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Letter in Support of House Bill (HB) 3360/Senate Bill (SB) 248 to Upgrade South Carolina’s Distracted Driving Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On March 30, 2021 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) sent a letter to the South Carolina House Judiciary Committee in support of House Bill (HB) 3360/ Senate Bill (SB) 248 to upgrade South Carolina’s distracted driving law.   The legislation would broaden the current prohibition on drivers from using wireless communication devices to read, write or send text messages while operating a motor vehicle to include distracting viewing and manual use.

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Advocates Urges South Carolina Senate to Upgrade the State’s Distracted Driving Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On March 30, 2021, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) sent a letter to the South Carolina Senate Committee on Transportion urging support for Senate Bill (SB) 248/ House Bill (HB) 3360.  This legislation would improve safety on South Carolina roads by broadening the current prohibition on drivers from using wireless communication devices to read, write or send text messages while operating a motor vehicle to include distracting viewing and manual use.

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Letter Opposing Assembly Bill (AB) 122 to Weaken California’s Bicycle Safety Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On March 30, 2021 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) sent a letter to the California Assembly Committee on Appropriations opposing Assembly Bill (AB) 122.  This legislation would allow bicyclists to proceed through an intersection controlled by a stop sign without stopping if no vehicle is in the intersection or constitutes an immediate hazard to the cyclists while they are in the intersection.

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Letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for Hearing on “The Administration’s Priorities for Transportation Infrastructure”
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Advocates lauds the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for advancing numerous safety improvements in the Moving Forward Act as well as those Members who introduced stand-alone traffic safety bills last session. We urge the Committee to once again take action on the overdue and needed safety solutions as well as additional upgrades to accomplish our shared goal of preventing motor vehicle crash deaths and injuries and achieving safety equity for all.

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Letter to Senate Commerce Committee for Hearing on Rebuilding Transportation Infrastructure
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) urges you to prioritize the safety of all road users as you consider policies and legislation investing in infrastructure.

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Letter Urging Upgrade of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Bill, Senate Bill (SB) 15, in Wisconsin
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On March 24, 2021 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) sent a letter to the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government calling for changes to improve Senate Bill (SB) 15, which would lower the age of entry into the state’s graduated driver licensing (GDL) law from 15.5 to 15 years.

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Statement on the Introduction of Legislation to Advance Impaired Driving Prevention Technology
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) applauds Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI, 12th), Kathleen Rice (D-NY, 4th) and David McKinley (R-WV, 1st) for their leadership to significantly and substantially reduce the avoidable toll of deaths and injuries caused by drunk driving on our nation’s roadways.  Today, they introduced The Honoring Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate Drunk Driving Act (HALT Drunk Driving Act), based on language in the Moving Forward Act (116th Congress, H.R. 2) which was passed with bipartisan support by the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2020.  The bill requires the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule five years after enactment compelling new passenger motor vehicles to be equipped with advanced drunk driving prevention technology.

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Letter in Support of Senate Bill (SB) 20 to Upgrade North Carolina’s Distracted Driving Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On March 22, 2021 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) sent a letter in support of Senate Bill (SB) 20 to the North Carolina Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate.  The legislation would improve safety on North Carolina roads by broadening the current prohibition on drivers from using wireless communication devices to read, write or send text messages while operating a motor vehicle to include distracting viewing of non-navigational content and manual use. 

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Letter Supporting House Bill (HB) 251 to Strengthen New Hampshire’s Child Occupant Protection Statute
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On March 17, 2021 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) sent a letter to the leadership of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in support of House Bill (HB) 251,  which would strengthen New Hampshire’s child occupant protection statute. This measure requires that children remain rear facing in a child safety seat until age two or older.

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Joint Letter Supporting Senate Bill (SB) 2121 to Upgrade North Dakota’s Seat Belt Law to Primary Enforcement for All Occupants
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On March 17, 2021 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) sent a joint letter to the North Dakota House Transportation Committee in support of Senate Bill (SB) 2121 which would upgrade North Dakota’s seat belt law to primary enforcement for all occupants.  The letter was co-signed by Advocates, the North Dakota Public Health Association, the North Dakota Emergency Nurses Association, and KidsandCars.org.

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Action Alert: Support Senate Bill (SB) 2121 to Upgrade North Dakota’s Seat Belt Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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SB 2121 upgrades North Dakota’s seat belt law to primary enforcement for all occupants.  Current law only requires seat belt use by adults in the front seat and is secondary enforcement.  Last session, which was in 2019, a similar bill passed the Senate but failed in the House.  SB 2121 passed the Senate (28 Y, 18N) on January 20, 2021.  The bill is now scheduled for a hearing in the House Transportation Committee on March 18.

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Letter Supporting House File (HF) 392 to Curb Distracted Driving in Iowa
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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The legislation would improve safety on Iowa roads by broadening the current prohibition on drivers from using wireless communication devices to read, write or send text messages while operating a motor vehicle to include distracting viewing of non-navigational content whether accomplished handheld or hands-free and restrict manual use.

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Action alert: Support Senate Bill (SB) 754 in Hawaii to lower the limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) while driving to .05%
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Support Senate Bill (SB) 754 in Hawaii.  Lowering the limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) while driving to .05% will deter drunk driving and save lives on Hawaii roads.

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Statement on New Motor Vehicle Crash Fatality Figures
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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The preliminary 2020 motor vehicle crash fatality figures released today by the National Safety Council (NSC) confirm what has been widely reported throughout the country – despite people driving less frequently, more are being killed on our roadways.  It is tragic that we have proven “vaccines” that could be significantly bringing down these numbers but they are not being implemented. 

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Statement on 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Today, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released its 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, issuing a grade of “D” for U.S. roads and “C” for bridges.  Since its last report in 2017, the grade for roads has remained at a dismal “D,” and the grade for bridges holds the disappointing distinction of being the only category in which the grade dropped (from a C+).  This is not a “refrigerator-worthy” report card.  It is time for our nation’s leaders to “hit the books” and advance proven solutions to upgrade our infrastructure which will also result in improving safety for all road users.

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Letters Supporting Assembly Bill (A) 855 and Senate Bill (SB) 1602 to Curb Distracted Driving in New Jersey
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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These bills will improve safety on New Jersey roads by prohibiting device use while stopped in traffic (S. 1602) and by broadening the current prohibition on drivers’ use of wireless communication devices while operating a motor vehicle to include viewing non-navigational video and content (A. 855).

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Honolulu Star-Advertiser Letter to the Editor: Lowering BAC about driving, not drinking
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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We urge Hawaii to join Utah and more than 90 countries with .05% BAC or lower limits to deter drunken driving. Not every vote the Legislature takes this session will save lives, but this one clearly would.

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Letter Opposing Senate Bill (SB) 331 to Raise Speed Limits on West Virginia Highways
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Speeding in West Virginia was a contributing factor in 33 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2019, a notably higher proportion than the national average of 26 percent (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)). Excess speed can contribute to both the frequency and severity of motor vehicle crashes and is especially damaging to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists.

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Letter in Support of Georgia House Bill (HB) 439 to Require the Use of Ignition Interlock Devices (IIDs) by All Convicted Drunk Drivers
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Under current law in Georgia, ignition interlocks are required for all repeat offenders for a period of 12 months; however, they are only an option for first-time offenders and first refusals in lieu of a restricted or
suspended license. Information from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) on the effectiveness of IIDs in Georgia notes that over the twelve-year period from December 1, 2006 to December 31, 2018, IIDs
prevented 35,496 attempts to drive drunk in the state including 4,339 attempts in 2018 alone. Expanding the law to include all first-time offenders would improve the effectiveness of the IID program and help prevent
drunk driving.

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Letter Opposing House Bill (HB) 628 to Raise Speed Limits on New Hampshire Roadways
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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In 2020 despite a steep drop in vehicle miles traveled, 42 percent at its lowest point compared to the average in 2019, the number of traffic fatalities in New Hampshire remained consistent with 2019, indicating a spike in the traffic fatality rate. Reckless driving resulting in deadlier crashes has been identified as a cause, and the lethal combination of a rise in speeding and impaired driving and a decrease in seat belt use has been reported. Clearly, these dangerous issues need to be addressed and certainly should not be exacerbated by increasing speed limits.

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Letter for House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Hearing on Equity in Transportation Safety Enforcement
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Ensuring that all people can safely and equitably share in the transportation network is essential to our daily lives and opportunities for health care, employment, education, recreation, and others. This must be a cornerstone of our Nation’s transportation policy.

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Letter for Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Hearing on Transportation, Equity, Climate Change, Economic Growth and Innovation
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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The safety of everyone who uses our transportation system should be a cornerstone of these discussions and accomplished in complement with improving environmental concerns, advancing equity, and promoting growth and innovation.

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Joint Statement Opposing Senate Bill (SB) 712 to Repeal Maryland’s All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On February 19, 2021 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), the Maryland Emergency Nurses Association and the Partnership for a Safer Maryland submitted a statement opposing Senate Bill (SB) 712, which would repeal Maryland’s all-rider motorcycle helmet law.  The statement was submitted for the record to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in advance of a February 23, 2021 hearing.

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Letter Opposing Senate Bill (SB) 69 to Weaken North Carolina’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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The learner period is the safest time for novice drivers, supervised by a licensed adult, while they gain skills and confidence to drive independently and responsibly. This is also the stage in which the
supervising adult has an opportunity to help instill lifetime safe driving behaviors. Unfortunately, SB 69 seeks to reduce the critical learner’s period from 12 to just six months.

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Action Alert: Oppose Senate Bill (SB) 712 to Repeal Maryland’s All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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The effort to repeal Maryland’s all-rider helmet law has been consistently considered in the Maryland General Assembly over the past several sessions. This year, the bill (SB 712) has 10 sponsors, including three members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee (SJPC).  The SJPC is holding a hearing to consider SB 712 on Tuesday, February 23, at 1:00 p.m.  Several stakeholders have provided testimony in opposition including public health and safety groups, medical professionals, families of crash victims, researchers, and motorcyclists.  Following the SJPC hearing, a vote will be scheduled to take place during a committee voting session. 

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Letter in Support of House Bill (HB) 74 to Upgrade Ohio’s Distracted Driving Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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This legislation will improve safety on Ohio roads by upgrading the state’s distracted driving law to primary enforcement, curbing distracting viewing behind the wheel, and adding a ban on handheld mobile device use. Current state law is secondary enforcement which significantly hinders police efforts as they are required to first observe an additional violation before stopping the driver for texting while driving. Considering the prevalence of distracted driving crashes, this legislation is critical and timely.

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Cleveland Plain Dealer Letter to the Editor: Deadly trends on Ohio roads show why Gov. DeWine’s distracted-driving plan is needed
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Drivers should not take a Zoom meeting, watch videos or use apps while driving. All would be prohibited under the governor’s plan. I urge the Ohio General Assembly to advance DeWine’s proposal, which is supported by a strong coalition of stakeholders. Let’s work together to ensure Ohio’s roads are safer for all.

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Letters Supporting Efforts in South Carolina to Enact an All-Offender Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) supports House Bill (HB) 3008/Senate Bill (SB) 28 to require the use of ignition interlock devices (IIDs) by all convicted drunk drivers, including first time offenders. We urge you to advance this measure and join the 34 states and Washington, DC that have made their streets and highways safer by enacting an all-offender IID law.

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The Hill Op-Ed: The safe and equitable road forward on autonomous vehicles starts with proven technologies to save lives
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Over the last couple of years, numerous experts and stakeholders have collaborated to develop the AV Tenets which prioritize the safety of all road users, guarantee accessibility and equity, preserve consumer and worker rights, and ensure local control and sustainable transportation. These positions, which are supported by 60 organizations representing public health and safety, labor, people with disabilities, bicyclists and pedestrians, law enforcement, equity, smart growth, and others, should be used as a basis for future policy.

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Lincoln Journal-Star Letter to the Editor: Motorcycle helmet law saving lives
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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The Nebraska Legislature will once again consider repealing the all-rider motorcycle helmet law, which has been saving lives and preventing catastrophic injuries for more than 30 years.  If advanced, LB581 would severely, if not completely, nullify current protections by reducing compliance to only minors. 

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Letter Opposing Legislative Bill (LB) 271 to Weaken Nebraska’s All-Offender Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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LB 271 would weaken the IID law by allowing participation in a 24/7 sobriety program and use of a 24/7 sobriety program driving permit as an alternative to the IID requirement. This change would not prevent an offender from getting behind the wheel and driving drunk, which the IID technology requirement does, and therefore fails to safeguard the offender and all other road users.

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Letters in Support of Legislation to Lower the Limit of Alcohol-Impaired Driving to .05 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in Hawaii
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On February 11, 2021, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety sent three letters to the Hawaii State Legislature in support of Senate Bill (SB) 634, SB 754 and House Bill (HB) 651., which would lower the limit of alcohol-impaired driving to .05 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

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Joint Letter in Support of Legislation to Lower the Limit of Alcohol-Impaired Driving to .05 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in Hawaii
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On February 11, 2021, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety sent a letter to the Hawaii House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Members in support of House Bill (HB) 651., which would lower the limit of alcohol-impaired driving to .05 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

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Letter in Support of Senate Bill (SB) 380 to strengthen Florida’s Child Occupant Protection Statute
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On February 10, 2021, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) and KidsAndCars.org sent a letter to the Florida Senate Committee on Transportation in support of Senate bill (SB) 380.  This measure requires children to remain in a booster seat until at least age six.  The letter also urged the Committee to further upgrade the law by extending the age requirement in the bill to eight and adding a height requirement of 57 inches before permitting a child to transition to the use of a seat belt in a rear seat. 

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Letter to the North Dakota House of Representatives on Senate Bill (SB) 2121: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Legislation
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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The North Dakota Public Health Association, North Dakota Emergency Nurses Association, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), and KidsAndCars.org support passage of Senate Bill (SB) 2121, legislation that will upgrade North Dakota’s seat belt law to primary enforcement for all occupants.

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Letter in Support of House Bill (HB) 90 to Upgrade Alabama’s Distracted Driving Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On February 5, 2021 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) sent a letter to the Alabama Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security in support of House Bill (HB) 90.  The legislation would improve safety on Alabama roads by broadening the current prohibition on drivers from using wireless communication devices to read, write or send text messages while operating a motor vehicle to include distracting viewing of non-navigational content and manual use.

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Letter in Support of House Bill (HB) 23 to Strengthen Wyoming’s Child Occupant Protection Statute
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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This measure requires that children remain rear facing in a child safety seat until age two or older. Children should remain in appropriate safety seats as long as possible, until they have aged out and outgrown the seat specifications.

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Joint Statement Opposing Legislative Bill (LB) 581 to Repeal Nebraska’s All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Our organizations urge you to oppose legislative bill (LB) 581 to repeal Nebraska’s all-rider motorcycle helmet law. For 32 years this critical law has been preventing deaths and injuries and saving taxpayer dollars in Nebraska. To repeal the all-rider helmet law would be a deadly and costly mistake.

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Statement: New Crash Tests Reveal Deadly Consequences of Higher Speeds and Make the Case for Advancing Proven Safeguards
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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New crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, and Humanetics show that modest five to ten miles-per-hour (mph) increases in speed can have a severe impact on a driver’s risk of injury or even death.  The findings underscore the need to curb speed escalation, expand the use of road safety technologies such as automated speed enforcement (ASE), and require proven vehicle safety technology in all new vehicles.  The new study and focus on speed are especially timely following a year when many motorists turned emptier roads into risky racetracks and the traffic fatality rate increased greatly due in part to an uptick in speeding.

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Statement in Support of Wyoming Senate File (SF) 11: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Legislation
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that needless deaths and injuries resulting from non-use of seat belts cost society more than $10 billion annually in medical care, lost productivity, and other injury related costs based on 2010 data. When adjusted for inflation, this amounts to over $12 billion per year.

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Letter in Support of Assembly Bill (A) 1354/Senate Bill (S) 1963 to Upgrade New Jersey’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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This legislation would improve the current graduated driver licensing (GDL) law for novice drivers by requiring supervised driving hours and extending the examination and special learner’s permit holding period for novice teen and young adult drivers.

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Letter to Wyoming Joint Committee on Transportation and Highways on Senate File (SF) 11: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Legislation
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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As representatives of leading public health and safety organizations, we support passage of Senate File (SF) 11, legislation that will upgrade Wyoming’s seat belt law to primary enforcement for all occupants. A comprehensive seat belt law is vital to overcome the public health epidemic of traffic fatalities and injuries and to ensure the health and safety of Wyoming families and visitors who travel on state roads.

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Statement on Proposed Truck Driver Sleeper Berth Pilot Program
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) opposes a new pilot program announced today that would further erode minimum protections to curb the well-known public safety threat of truck driver fatigue.  This proposal by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), announced just days before the start of a new administration, would threaten public safety at a time when truck crashes claim far too many lives and cause lifelong debilitating injuries.

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Statement on Autonomous Vehicles Rule
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Today’s action by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is the culmination of a preoccupation with kowtowing to the auto industry’s priority of removing so-called regulatory barriers in order to facilitate the introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs). While we expected nothing less, this misdirection should not go unnoticed or overlooked.

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Letter Opposing Bill to Weaken Iowa’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Law – House Study Bill (HSB) 4
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On January 14, 2021, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) sent a letter to the Iowa House Agriculture Committee in opposition to House Study Bill (HSB) 4.  The legislation would 
would expand an exemption to the state’s graduated driver licensing (GDL) law for a special minor’s driver’s license to permit 14.5-year-old novice drivers to drive unsupervised up to 50 miles between destinations if they live or work on a farm and would remove a restriction preventing applicants who live within one mile of their school from qualifying.

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Letter to the North Dakota Senate Transportation Committee on Senate Bill (SB) 2121: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Legislation
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) and KidsAndCars.org support passage of Senate Bill (SB) 2121, legislation that will upgrade North Dakota’s seat belt law to primary enforcement for all occupants. A comprehensive seat belt law is vital to overcome the public health epidemic of traffic fatalities and injuries and to ensure the health and safety of North Dakota families and visitors who travel on state roads.

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Statement on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) AV TEST Initiative Announcement
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Less than two weeks before the Biden-Harris Administration takes office, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) took one more opportunity today to tout a voluntary, and essentially useless, program that purports to provide meaningful information on autonomous vehicle (AV) testing, but in fact does nothing of the kind.

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PRESS RELEASE: Following Deadlier Than Expected 2020, New Highway Safety Report Provides Solutions State Legislatures Can Take Action on as 2021 Sessions Kick Off
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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In 2020, impaired and distracted driving increased, and seat belt use decreased, contributing to a higher overall fatality rate in the first half of the year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and news reports from around the country.  In the Report, Advocates urges states to “Change this Picture in 2021,” by enacting 16 recommended optimal highway safety laws.

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Statement: Two-Year Anniversary of a Horrific Drunk Driving Tragedy Marked by Re-Commitment by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI, 12th) to Take Action
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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On the two-year anniversary of the deadly impaired driving crash that killed Rima and Issam Abbas and their three children, family members and friends joined Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI, 12th) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to recommit to advancing proven drunk driving prevention technology in all new cars.

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Letter to the Editor: Utah sets an example for keeping our roads safe
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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We couldn’t agree more with the December 29th editorial, “Utah’s 0.05% DUI law turns 2, and it’s time other states follow suit.”  The shameful scare tactics of certain members of the alcohol and hospitality industry about the gloom and doom this law would foist upon tourism unsurprisingly have rung hollow.

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MEDIA ALERT: Report Card to Rate 50 States and DC on Passage of Essential Traffic Safety Laws
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Advocates will call on state lawmakers to use this new report as a roadmap during their 2021 legislative sessions to pass proven, effective laws that will reverse this trajectory and reduce the more than 36,600 deaths and 2.7 million injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes annually.

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Statement on Release of 2019 Motor Vehicle Crash Data
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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While today’s report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates a slight two percent decrease in motor vehicle crash fatalities during 2019, 36,096 people were killed and an additional 2.74 million people were injured on our Nation’s roadways.  This is completely unacceptable – especially considering proven safety technologies are available and lifesaving laws could be enacted in all states.

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National Impaired Driving Prevention Month Statement
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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While the winter holidays certainly will be different this year because of COVID-19, an unfortunate constant is a predictable increase in preventable motor vehicle crashes. This National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) is calling for swift action to advance proven technological and legislative solutions.

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Statement on House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee Staff Report on Booster Seat Safety
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2020 CONTACT: Pete Daniels / pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 (C) Statement of Cathy Chase, President of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, On New Booster Seat Safety Report   Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates)…

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Letter to Senate Commerce Subcommittee Hearing on “The Logistics of Transporting a COVID-19 Vaccine”
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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While our Nation continues to suffer the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic, we are grateful for your attention to this vital part of the relief effort.  As leaders of organizations with public health and safety missions, we appreciate the goal of ensuring that vaccines expeditiously reach the public.  It is also imperative that safety on our roads remains a key priority.  The objectives of transporting vaccines efficiently and safely must not be mutually exclusive.

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Press Release: Comprehensive Approach to People-First Autonomous Vehicle Policy Supported by Coalition of More Than 55 Groups
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Autonomous Vehicle Tenets prioritize safety, accessibility, protection of all road users, local control, consumer & workforce rights, and sustainability

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Speaker Contact List: Autonomous Vehicle Tenets Release Briefing
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Autonomous Vehicle Tenets prioritize safety, accessibility, protection of all road users, local control, consumer & workforce rights, and sustainability

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Media Alert: Diverse Coalition of Stakeholders to Outline a Path Forward on Autonomous Vehicle Legislation that Puts People First
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Autonomous Vehicle Tenets prioritize safety, accessibility, protection of all road users, local control, consumer & workforce rights, and sustainability

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Statement on Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Study on Partial Automation and Driver Disengagement
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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A new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) finds that drivers tend to disengage more frequently from the driving task as they develop trust in partial automation systems like adaptive cruise control (ACC) and lane centering assist (LCA).

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Statement on on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Request for Information on Technology to Prevent Impaired Driving
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Lifesaving limit has reduced drunk driving crashes and saved tens of thousands of lives. New countermeasures must be employed to continue to address this persistent public safety threat.

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Statement on the 20th Anniversary of the .08 Percent Blood Alcohol Concentration Law
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Lifesaving limit has reduced drunk driving crashes and saved tens of thousands of lives. New countermeasures must be employed to continue to address this persistent public safety threat.

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Statement on Upcoming October Events — Teen Driver Safety Week and Halloween
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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“Scary” times for teen novice drivers and trick-or-treaters can be alleviated with proven safety countermeasures and advanced vehicle safety technology.

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Statement on Distracted Driving Awareness Month
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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This Distracted Driving Awareness Month, education and awareness campaigns aimed at keeping drivers’ eyes on the road and their minds focused on driving are in full swing. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) supports these efforts, but they must be combined with proven countermeasures to curtail this deadly scourge on our roadways.

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Statement on 2019 and 2020 Motor Vehicle Crash Fatalities
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Decreases in fatalities caused by motor vehicle crashes on our roadways are a step in the right direction, but we are crawling instead of sprinting toward significant reductions when proven solutions are available.

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Statement on NTSB Meeting on October 6, 2018 Limousine Crash in Schoharie, New York
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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Today’s National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) meeting on the October 6, 2018 limousine crash in Schoharie, NY reveals failures on multiple levels that led to one of the deadliest transportation crashes our nation has ever experienced.

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Letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao on National Pedestrian Safety Month
 150 150 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
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In advance of “National Pedestrian Safety Month,” Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety today sent a letter, co-signed by 12 other groups, to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

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Letter in Support of Legislation to Prevent Drunk Driving
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Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety Distribute Letter from Major Property-Casualty Insurance Companies and Trade Organizations in Support of the RIDE Act (S. 2604) to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee MADD National President…

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Statement in Opposition to the SELF DRIVE Act
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Today, Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) re-introduced the Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution (SELF DRIVE) Act, legislation on driverless cars, or autonomous vehicles (AVs), that would perpetuate a dangerous hands-off approach to hands-free driving, while also restricting states’ abilities to protect their road users from this unproven technology.

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Statement on Child Passenger Safety Week
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Over the last few months, numerous reports from across the country have made it clear that our roadways have turned into risky raceways with motorists driving recklessly at excessively high speeds, while distracted or when impaired. This trend endangers all road users, especially children. During Child Passenger Safety Week (September 20-26), we urge all parents and caregivers to make certain children are best protected while on the road.

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Richmond Times-Dispatch Letter to Editor by Cathy Chase: Action Needed to Reduce Aggressive Driving
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As a Virginia resident and mother of a teenager whom I’m trying to teach how to drive safely, I greatly appreciated Opinions Editor Pamela Stallsmith’s recent editorial, “Driving during COVID-19: What’s the rush?” calling on drivers to slow down on our state’s roadways. I have witnessed firsthand the reckless driving that has become more common since the start of the pandemic.

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Statement: Truck Driver Hours of Service Rule Challenged in Federal Court by Coalition of Driver and Safety Groups
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In June, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced drastic changes to federal truck driver hours of service (HOS) rules. Under the guise of increased flexibility, the changes will further exacerbate the already well-known threat of fatigue among commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers by significantly weakening current HOS rules. As such, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Parents Against Tired Truckers (PATT) and Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH) have filed a petition today with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit seeking to invalidate this flawed rule. The parties are represented by Public Citizen Litigation Group.

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Statement on the 50th Anniversary of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970 with the mission of reducing the number of deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes.  While a series of “pat on the back” online discussions this week will focus on progress made over the last 50 years, in reality this agency is failing to meet the moment.  Just today, the National Safety Council released statistics for the first half of 2020 showing fatality rates on our roadways are estimated to have increased 20 percent.  Clearly more can and must be done to address this disturbing and distressing uptick.

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Statement on New Research Demonstrating Proven Benefits of Crash Avoidance Technology in Large Trucks
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As we approach Labor Day, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) encourages everyone to think about the origin of the holiday which was created more than a century ago to celebrate the contributions of workers in the U.S., including those whose workplace is behind the wheel and on our roads.  Truck drivers, transit workers, passenger vehicle drivers, first responders, road maintenance and construction workers, and other essential employees all have jobs that require navigating roadways which have seen marked increases in speeding and reckless driving since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.  They deserve the safest possible work environment, a goal which can be achieved in part through ensuring widespread use of proven vehicle safety technology and employing reliable countermeasures that reduce dangerous driving behavior.

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Statement: Protecting Workers on Our Roads Honors the Spirit of Labor Day
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As we approach Labor Day, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) encourages everyone to think about the origin of the holiday which was created more than a century ago to celebrate the contributions of workers in the U.S., including those whose workplace is behind the wheel and on our roads.  Truck drivers, transit workers, passenger vehicle drivers, first responders, road maintenance and construction workers, and other essential employees all have jobs that require navigating roadways which have seen marked increases in speeding and reckless driving since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.  They deserve the safest possible work environment, a goal which can be achieved in part through ensuring widespread use of proven vehicle safety technology and employing reliable countermeasures that reduce dangerous driving behavior.

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Statement Commending New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) on Signing Lifesaving Seat Belt Upgrade
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Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) applauds New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) for signing Senate Bill (S.) 4336 / Assembly Bill (A.) 6163 into law to save lives by closing a gap in the state’s seat belt law and requiring all occupants to buckle up.

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Joint Statement Urging New York Governor Andrew Cuomo To Sign Lifesaving Seat Belt Upgrade Into Law
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2020 CONTACT: Pete Daniels / pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 (C)   Joint Statement Urging New York Governor Andrew Cuomo To Sign Lifesaving Seat Belt Upgrade Into Law S. 4336/A. 6163 will save lives, reduce injuries and…

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MEDIA ALERT: International Virtual Press Event on How Technology Can Stop Hot Car Deaths
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MEDIA ALERT: VIRTUAL INTERNATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE & CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 12:00 pm EST   Contacts: Janette Fennell, President and Founder, KidsAndCars.org, Janette@KidsAndCars.org / 415-336-9279 (C) Amber Rollins, Director, KidsAndCars.org, Amber@KidsAndCars.org / 913-205-6973 (C) Tech Companies Demonstrate Vehicle…

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Statement on the Passing of Congressman John Lewis (D-GA-5th)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2020 CONTACT: Pete Daniels, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety / pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 (C)   Statement of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety on the Passing of Congressman John Lewis (D-GA-5th) Civil Rights Icon…

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Statement on on Enactment of H.B. 1963, Repealing Missouri’s All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2020 CONTACT: Pete Daniels, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety / pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 (C)   Statement of Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, on Enactment of H.B. 1963, Repealing Missouri’s All-Rider…

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Public Health and Safety Advocates Call on Governor Mike Parson to Veto H.B. 1963 – Retain Missouri’s All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2020 CONTACTS: Advocates: Tara Gill / tgill@saferoads.org / 202.615.2629 MO ENA: Heath Jennings / k.heathjennings@yahoo.com / 417.593.3874 MO FACS Committee on Trauma: Chris Johnson / cjohnson@facs.org / 202.440.2560 MO Insurance Coalition: Brandon Koch / brandon@moinsurancecoalition.com…

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Statement on Avoiding Driving Dangers Over the Independence Day Holiday & Keeping Families Safe
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 2, 2020 CONTACT: Pete Daniels / pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 or Allison Kennedy / akennedy@saferoads.org / 360-281-7033   Statement of Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Avoid Driving Dangers Over the Independence Day Holiday…

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Statement on the Passage of the Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2) by the U.S. House of Representatives
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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, July 1, 2020 CONTACT: Pete Daniels, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety / pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 (C) / Allison Kennedy, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety / akennedy@saferoads.org / 360-281-7033   Statement of Cathy…

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Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2) Passed by U.S. House of Representatives
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The Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2) was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 1, 2020:

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The Hill Op-Ed by Cathy Chase, Joan Claybrook, Jason Levine, and William Wallace: Auto Safety At the foundation of the House infrastructure bill
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The following op-ed was originally published by The Hill on Tuesday, June 30, 2020: Auto Safety: At the foundation of the House infrastructure bill BY CATHY CHASE, JOAN CLAYBROOK, JASON LEVINE AND WILLIAM WALLACE, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY…

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ALERT: OPPOSE AMENDMENT 21 (Part H, #2) TO H.R. 2 ALLOWING SPECIAL INTEREST EXEMPTION TO FEDERAL TRUCK SIZE & WEIGHT LAWS ON CONNECTICUT’S INTERSTATES
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URGENT – OPPOSE AMENDMENT 21 (Part H, #2) TO H.R. 2 ALLOWING SPECIAL INTEREST EXEMPTION TO FEDERAL TRUCK SIZE & WEIGHT LAWS ON CONNECTICUT’S INTERSTATES Amendment Opposed by: Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Center for Auto Safety, Citizens for…

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Letter to Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety Regarding the Hearing: “Safety on Our Roads: Overview of Traffic Safety and NHTSA Grant Programs” 
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On June 30, 2020 Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation regarding the hearing titled: “Safety on Our Roads: Overview of Traffic…

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Vote Scorecard for Amendments to the Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2), Rules Committee, June 29, 2020
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To read the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) vote scorecard for proposed amendments to the Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2) during the June 29, 2020 U.S. House Committee on Rules hearing, CLICK HERE.

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Group Letter in Support of Safety Provisions in H.R. 2
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June 29, 2020 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House The Honorable Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy: As a diverse coalition of groups representing vehicle safety,…

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Notable Quotes from June 23, 2020 Press Teleconference Urging Passage of the Motor Vehicle Safety Title as Part of the Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 23, 2020 CONTACT: Pete Daniels, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety / pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 (C)   Notable Quotes from June 23, 2020 Press Teleconference Urging Passage of the Motor Vehicle Safety Title as Part of…

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MEDIA ALERT: Members of Congress, Safety and Consumer Advocates, and Family Members who Have Lost Loved Ones to Call for Passage of Lifesaving Motor Vehicle Safety Title in Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2)
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  MEDIA ALERT: PRESS TELECONFERENCE Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. EST   CONTACT: Pete Daniels, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 (C)   Members of Congress, Safety and Consumer Advocates, and Family Members who Have…

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Joint Statement on the Motor Vehicle Safety Title
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  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 22, 2020 CONTACT: Pete Daniels, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety / pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 (C)   Joint Statement: The Motor Vehicle Safety Title Advances Important Technology and Programs that will Save Lives, Reduce Injuries…

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Joint Statement: Public Health and Safety Groups Call on Governor Roy Cooper to Retain North Carolina’s Driver License Road Test Requirement and Veto House Bill 158
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2020 CONTACT: Pete Daniels / pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 (C) Joint Statement: Public Health and Safety Groups Call on Governor Roy Cooper to Retain North Carolina’s Driver License Road Test Requirement and Veto House Bill 158…

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Statement on Advancement of the INVEST in America Act
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 18, 2020 CONTACT: Pete Daniels / pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 (C) Statement of Cathy Chase, President of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), On Advancement of the INVEST in America Act   The House of Representatives Committee on…

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Statement on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s AV TEST Initiative
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 15, 2020 CONTACT: Pete Daniels / pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 (C) Statement of Cathy Chase, President of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), On National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) AV TEST Initiative   Agency rolls out…

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Winston-Salem Journal Op-Ed: Pump the brakes! Don’t eliminate the driver license road test… update it
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The Winston-Salem Journal first published the following joint op-ed on June 12, 2020: Pump the brakes! Don’t eliminate the driver license road test… update it By Cathy Chase and Dr. Flaura Koplin Winston Guest columnists Jun 12, 2020 COVID-19 resulted…

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Joint Statement on INVEST in America Act
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2020 CONTACT: Pete Daniels, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety pdaniels@saferoads.org / 301-442-2249 (C) Joint Statement: “INVEST in America Act” Advances Crucial Safety Improvements That Will Reduce the Carnage on U.S. Roadways   U.S. House…

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Statement Submitted to Senate Commerce Committee Hearing on Transportation, Infrastructure and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Cathy Chase, President of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety submitted a statement to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.  The statement was submitted as part of the record for a hearing titled:…

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