Texas Found Lacking Standard Road Safety Laws
Advocates for public safety have compiled ratings for the safest states in the United States of America. The rankings were based on looking at 15 standard traffic safety laws and seeing which states have made them into laws. The compiled list was released in the Roadmap of State Highway Safety. But the bad news is that…
Advocates for public safety have compiled ratings for the safest states in the United States of America. The rankings were based on looking at 15 standard traffic safety laws and seeing which states have made them into laws. The compiled list was released in the Roadmap of State Highway Safety. But the bad news is that Texas is one of twelve states that rank in the lowest tier of highway traffic safety.
Texas has come under fire for not creating laws to stop fatalities from occurring over the years. There has been a fatality every day on Texas roads since November 7, 2000. Overall, in America, there has been an increase in fatalities as well. Year to year, from 2011 to 2012, there has been a 7% increase in the number of traffic fatalities.
In regards to this increase in fatalities, the report makes recommendations of the 15 standard laws which were reviewed. Those laws included teen licensing laws, distracted driving laws, occupant protection laws, booster seat laws, seat belt laws, and others. Out of those 15, Texas only has 8 on the books. For example, Texas had a chance to outlaw texting while driving on numerous occasions during the last 4 years, yet they failed to do so.
Bob Kaufman, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation claims that safety campaigns have improved driving conditions for Texas residents. Kaufman released a statement that it’s “important to remember, drivers hold the key to driving safely. We encourage drivers to adhere to some basic safe driving tips: pay attention, buckle seat belts, put the phone away, never drink and drive, obey all traffic laws and drive to conditions.” No matter how safe you drive, other drivers on the road can be downright careless. If you have been injured by a reckless driver, then it is important to have legal recourse. Contacting an experienced lawyer at the Begum Law Firm in McAllen is the first step.
