States Praise Highway Safety Provisions in Commerce Transportation Bill

States Praise Highway Safety Provisions in Commerce Transportation Bill

Provides Stability and Flexibility to Improve Safety for All Road Users

Statement for attribution to 
Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) Chairman Kendell Poole

WASHINGTON, D.C. – GHSA congratulates the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on releasing S. 1732: the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015. This six-year reauthorization bill will provide needed stability and consistency for state highway safety agencies to reduce the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities on America’s roads.

The legislation would increase funding to the State and Community Highway Safety Grant Program (Section 402), the cornerstone of all state highway safety programs, giving states more flexibility to apply research-based, data-driven approaches to address a wide spectrum of highway safety challenges, such as occupant protection, speeding, bicyclist and pedestrian safety, and drunk, drugged, and distracted driving. According to NHTSA, 94 percent of crashes are due to a driver related behavior, so it is critical that we direct adequate resources toward these problems.

The bill makes improvements to distracted driving and drunk driving incentive grants that will allow more states to qualify for funds and encourage additional states to enact new highway safety laws. Additionally, it takes steps to lessen unnecessary and overly burdensome administrative tasks that impede upon the timely implementation of lifesaving programs.

We thank Chairman John Thune (R-SD) and the rest of the Senate Commerce Committee for putting forward legislation that will bring stability to state highway safety programs and allow states to focus on making their roadways safer.

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About GHSA
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy, enhance program management and promote best practices. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202-789-0942 or visit www.ghsa.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GHSAhq or follow us on Twitter at @GHSAHQ.