Safety on our Highways

SAFETY ON OUR HIGHWAYS

Car crashes are the leading cause of death among American children, teenagers and young adults.

In fact, in 2001, more than 42,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes and another 3.3 million more were injured. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the total cost to society of these crashes exceeds $230 billion each year nationwide.

And Louisiana families suffered nearly 1,000 fatalities -- or 18 deaths every week, across our state. We have experienced a 13 percent increase in motor vehicle deaths at a cost of $4 billion or $895 per person each year.

Crashes cost employers $22,000 per crash, and $110,000 per injury from lost productivity, higher insurance and medical costs. And nearly one quarter of all costs associated with crashes are paid by taxpayer-funded programs such as Medicaid.

To address these concerns, I recently chaired a highway safety briefing in New Orleans with members of the state Highway Safety Commission and Department of Insurance, the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans and mayors, judges, police chiefs, sheriffs, medical officials and business leaders from across the state. The briefing was designed to focus attention on our state's highway safety problems and to bring the relevant parties together begin to work toward solutions and a safer state.

And as a senior member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, I will be involved in the drafting and passing of several major bills Congress will address to set the highway and auto safety agenda for the next several years. These bills include legislation reauthorizing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) -- responsible for motor vehicle and highway safety programs -- and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) -- responsible for truck and bus safety programs.

Among the national safety priorities we must meet are improved motor vehicle safety standards. Our Senate Commerce Committee recently held hearings on the safety of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) which roll over too easily and can be dangerous to their owners. The Highway Traffic Safety Commission must address the compatibility of large and small cars, as well as other safety standards, such as roof crush, ejection prevention, side impact protection and better seating systems.

During the drafting of these and other bills, we in the Congress should consider strengthening the safety requirements of SUVs, making state laws directed at high-risk, repeat DWI offenders more stringent, and providing funding for improving intersection safety.

Also, Louisiana's seat belt safety laws have saved hundreds of lives every year, but more can be done. For example, not every state has this important law. Federal legislation must be passed to encourage other states to enact this law.

Safety is a shared partnership between the federal government and state government. We must all work together to improve highway safety, and save lives in Louisiana and across the nation.