Personal Injury Law

Virginia's Highway Safety Ranked Worst

By Regan Zambri & Long

 Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding partner

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, a nonprofit advocacy group, has rated Virginia one of the worst states in the nation in highway safety, according to the Washington Post.  "This year, Maryland and the District were among the dozen 'green' (relatively safe) states. Thirty others were rated yellow (less safe), and Virginia descended into the red (least safe) zone."

According to the article, the group rates states based upon a wide variety of criteria, including the following factors: "mandatory motorcycle helmets, stricter seat-belt enforcement, open container bans, tougher drunken driving laws. But in the upcoming legislative sessions, it also will push for enforceable bans on text messaging and for graduated licensing for teenage drivers." a

Although no state has all of the safety laws the advocacy group recommends, Virginia lacks some crucial ones, including laws requiring blood-alcohol testing in fatal automobile collisions, banning open containers in vehicles, "mandating use of an ignition locking device that keeps people convicted of drunken driving from driving drunk again, and requiring applicants to be 16 before obtaining a learner's permit."

The District was given the highest national rating by the group, and has nearly all of the safety-laws recommended by the group in effect.  Maryland fairs well in the ranking system, but needs to focus more on "nighttime restrictions on teen drivers, mandatory use of an ignition interlock for all offenders and blood-alcohol testing for drivers who die in accidents, not just those who survive," according to the Post.

Driving laws should be strong oin every state in our country.  The absence of stern laws lead to serious injuries and death.  Encourage your legislators to promote sate driving laws to protect all drivers and pedestrians on or around our community roads.

Travel safely.

About the author:

Full post as published by DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog on January 13, 2010 (boomark / email).