Spotlights on Highway Safety Issues

In 2010, GHSA began producing a series of short reports spotilghting various highway safety issues. GHSA asks its State Highway Safety Office (SHSO) members to provide data and uses the data provided to put together these brief reports.

Below is a list of the Spotlights on Highway Safety published to date. Click on a specific report for more information.

Motorcyclist Traffic Fatalities by State: 2012 Preliminary Data

Published April 2013

This report projects that motorcyclist fatalities increased 9 percent between 2011 and 2012, based on preliminary data supplied by the states.

Unseasonably warm weather, an improving economy, and rising gas prices are suggested as factors that may have contributed to this spike in motorcycle deaths. The report recommends several proven countermeasures to help reverse the trend. Learn More

Teenage Driver Fatalities by State: 2012 Preliminary Data

Published February 2013

Preliminary data indicate deaths of 16- and 17-year-old drivers are up 19 percent between the first six months of 2011 and the first six months of 2012.

The report suggests potential explanations for the recent uptick in teen driver deaths and also provides suggestions on how to reverse the trend and save more teen lives. Learn More

Motorcyclist Traffic Fatalities by State: 2011 Preliminary Data

Published May 2012

This report projects that the number of motorcyclist traffic fatalities in the United States was about the same in 2011 as in 2010.

The report also discusses how a strengthening economy and rising gas prices may influence fatality numbers and recommends five strategies that states can implement to help make a difference in keeping motorcyclists safer on our nation's roadways. Learn More

Teenage Driver Fatalities by State: 2011 Preliminary Data

Published February 2012

This report indicates that the number of 16- and 17-year-old driver deaths in passenger vehicles increased 11 percent between the first six months of 2010 and the first six months of 2011. This could mean 2011 saw the first increase in driver deaths for this age group after eight straight years of declines.

It offers some potential explanations for the increase as well as recommendations to improve teen driver safety. Learn More

Motorcyclist Traffic Fatalities by State: 2010 Preliminary Data

Published April 2011

This report projects a decline in motorcycle fatalities of at least 2 percent from 2009.

While the national decline is good news, there are some areas of concern, such as: a much smaller decline than the prior year; a 3 percent increase in fatalities in the third quarter; an expected rise in motorcycle travel; and a recent drop in motorcycle helmet use. Learn More

Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2010 Preliminary Data

Published January 2011

This report showed that the number of pedestrian traffic fatalities in the United States for the first six months of 2010 was essentially unchanged from 2009, increasing just 0.4 percent.

The report summarizes general principles states can use to keep pedestrians safe, such as prioritization, data analysis, engineering, laws and enforcement, and education. Learn More

Motorcyclist Traffic Fatalities by State: 2009 Preliminary Data

Published April 2010

This report projects that motorcyclist traffic fatalities in the United States fell in 2009, the first drop since 1997. The decrease for the full year nationwide was expected to be at least 10 percent.

States suggested several reasons for the decrease, including less motorcycle travel due to the economy, fewer beginning motorcyclists, and increased attention to motorcycle safety programs in the states. Learn More