"Traffic safety improvements should generate special interest in states facing budget challenges. These laws reduce governments' medical and emergency response costs by preventing crashes, injuries and deaths. What's more, some states could receive millions of dollars in financial incentives for passing some of these laws," AAA Vice President of Public Affairs Kathleen Marvaso said in a release.
AAA's main traffic safety priorities in the states include:
- Texting while driving bans: There are now 19 states out of 50 with laws prohibiting drivers of all ages from texting. AAA expects nearly every remaining state will consider this legislation in 2010.
- Teen driver safety: Just 6 states have graduated driver licensing systems that meet AAA's guidelines for nighttime limits, passenger limits, and practice requirements.
- Booster seat laws: Three states lack booster seat requirements, which have been shown to improve safety for young passengers. Five states enacted laws in 2009 requiring booster seats for children under age 8.
- Primary seat belt laws: After in 2009 four states improved their seat belt laws to allow primary enforcement by police, AAA and other safety advocates will continue to work to improve laws in the remaining 20 states without a primary belt law.
- Move over laws: Nearly every state (47 states) has a law that requires drivers to slow down and, if safe, "move over" when passing an emergency vehicle that is actively working on a roadway. Six states improved their laws in 2009 to include tow trucks and other road service vehicles.
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