Arkansas highway safety laws
The organization Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety has given Arkansas a failing grade on highway safety laws on the basis that the state has enacted only 5.5 out of the 15 "essential" laws recommended by the group. Here's a rundown of the deficiencies they cited (my commentary in bold):
• The state doesn't regulate teenage drivers enough. Specifically, Arkansans can apply for an learners permit at age 14. The group advocates raising that age, introducing supervised driving requirements, prohibiting teens from driving past 10:00 p.m., carrying passengers or using their cell phones while driving; Legislation that mirrors this request passed the Arkansas Senate in 2007 but failed in the House
• Arkansas should re-enact a motorcycle helmet law that was repealed in 1997; The governor's office says it is likely a motorcycle helmet bill will be introduced in the 2009 legislative session
• Arkansas should make a seatbelt violation a primary offense; This was attempted in 2007 but did not make it out of House Transportation
• We received partial credit for requiring children to be buckled into booster seats, but they want children to remain strapped until age 8.
• The group recommends tougher penalties for drivers who break safety laws with children in the car. In Texas, a first offense DWI with a child in the car is a felony; I don't know if I'd support a blanket increase in fines and penalties for other offenses without seeing a specific bill -- does this include failure to use a blinker?
• The group wants the Legislature to enact an open-container law; Ark. Code Ann. §5-71-212(c) sets out an offense for drinking in public, which prohibits the consumption of alcohol in any public place, highway, or street -- we should get credit for this law
• They want a law requiring that those convicted of driving under the influence to blow into an interlock device in order to start their car. The vehicle would not start if the lock sensed alcohol. This is already required on DWI 1st offense if the person has a blood alcohol level of .15 or higher (or for a refusal to submit)
Here's the group's press release, and here is an article published today by the DC Bureau of Stephens Media. The group would like to see federal highway funds withheld for those states not in compliance with these items.
• The state doesn't regulate teenage drivers enough. Specifically, Arkansans can apply for an learners permit at age 14. The group advocates raising that age, introducing supervised driving requirements, prohibiting teens from driving past 10:00 p.m., carrying passengers or using their cell phones while driving; Legislation that mirrors this request passed the Arkansas Senate in 2007 but failed in the House
• Arkansas should re-enact a motorcycle helmet law that was repealed in 1997; The governor's office says it is likely a motorcycle helmet bill will be introduced in the 2009 legislative session
• Arkansas should make a seatbelt violation a primary offense; This was attempted in 2007 but did not make it out of House Transportation
• We received partial credit for requiring children to be buckled into booster seats, but they want children to remain strapped until age 8.
• The group recommends tougher penalties for drivers who break safety laws with children in the car. In Texas, a first offense DWI with a child in the car is a felony; I don't know if I'd support a blanket increase in fines and penalties for other offenses without seeing a specific bill -- does this include failure to use a blinker?
• The group wants the Legislature to enact an open-container law; Ark. Code Ann. §5-71-212(c) sets out an offense for drinking in public, which prohibits the consumption of alcohol in any public place, highway, or street -- we should get credit for this law
• They want a law requiring that those convicted of driving under the influence to blow into an interlock device in order to start their car. The vehicle would not start if the lock sensed alcohol. This is already required on DWI 1st offense if the person has a blood alcohol level of .15 or higher (or for a refusal to submit)
Here's the group's press release, and here is an article published today by the DC Bureau of Stephens Media. The group would like to see federal highway funds withheld for those states not in compliance with these items.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 2/19/2008 03:18:00 PM | Permalink |
<< Home