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GHSA Publishes "Countermeasures That Work"
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has published a new guide to assist state highway safety offices to select science-based traffic safety countermeasures for major highway safety problem areas. The guide, "Countermeasures That Work: A Highway Safety Countermeasure Guide for State Highway Safety Offices," was developed for and funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The publication describes major strategies relevant to highway safety offices; summarizes their use, effectiveness, costs and implementation time; and provides references to research summaries and individual studies. The publication is online at GHSA's Web site.
NTSB Recommends Technology to Combat Driver Distraction
Acting National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Mark V. Rosenker is urging the consumer electronics industry to use technology to address the problem of distracted driving. Rosenker also noted the need to reduce distractions while driving. NTSB encourages the safe and responsible use of devices such as cell phones. The organization also recommends that drivers operating under the graduated driver's licensing programs not be permitted to use wireless devices while driving. For a long-term solution, Rosenker calls for close cooperation with researchers to answer basic questions about driving and human information processing.
Motor Vehicle Administrators Correct Real ID Inaccuracies, Continue Developing Real Driver’s License Solutions
“The successful implementation of the driver’s license and ID card provisions in the Real ID Act is a major priority issue for the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) and state Motor Vehicle Agencies (DMVs) across the U.S.,” said Linda Lewis-Pickett, president and CEO, AAMVA, while presiding today over the association’s Board meeting in Los Angeles, Calif. Given AAMVA’s longstanding commitment to this task, Lewis-Pickett offered clarification to the Associated Press’ Brian Bergstein’s recent depiction of a Real ID impact analysis to the states. For the
full press release, see AAMVA's Web site.
2006 Roadmap to Highway Safety is Released
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety has released its 3rd annual Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws. The highway safety report, entitled "Players, Politics and Progress" rates each state and the District of Columbia on their progress in adopting 14 laws designed to reduce highway crashes. Specifically, Advocates is pushing for laws promoting child booster seats, restrictive license for teenagers, tougher drunk driving standards and stricter motorcycle helmet use. AHAS, which is made up of consumer groups and insurance companies, feels that state laws are the quickest and least expensive way to reduce economic costs from accidents, which total more than $230 billion annually. For the
full report, see the Advocates Web site.
New Cell Phone Idea Could Help Distracted Drivers
According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Los Angeles native Demetrius Thompson has spent the past 12 years working on a project that could assist drivers while they are talking on cell phones. The project involves phones emitting a "chirp" when the driver comes within 300 feet of a traffic light. The system would provide phones that incorporate Global Positioning System software with software maps of the area's traffic signals. Thompson, who thought of the idea after being hit by a driver using a cell phone, plans to approach insurers and cellular providers with the venture.
AAMVA and IRP, Inc. Offices Close in Observance of MLK, Jr. Holiday
The offices of AAMVA and IRP, Inc. will be closed on Monday, Jan. 16 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. The offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Jan. 17. A listing of individual state closures is available on the System Alerts page of AAMVA's Web site.
TRB Annual Meeting Advance Registration Ends Soon
Advance registration for the Transportation Research Board's (TRB) 85th Annual Meeting ends January 15. Registering in advance helps speed on-site pickup of materials and gains access to the enhanced features of the Interactive Preliminary Program. The meeting, scheduled for Jan.22-26, 2006, will attract approximately 9,000 transportation professionals to Washington, DC. The theme for this year's meeting is "Transportation 2005: Getting There From Here." Also highlighted will be "The Interstate Highway Systems 50th Anniversary - What Have We Learned?", and "SAFETEA-LU: What it Means for Research and the Transportation Community." For more information, see TRB's Web site.
Apply for the AAMVA/Nick Denice Memorial Fellowship Awards
AAMVA is now accepting applications for its AAMVA/Nick Denice Memorial Fellowship Awards at the John F. Kennedy School of Government's Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University. This award is open to AAMVA members who are chief motor vehicle and law enforcement officials from the United States and Canada; AAMVA or IRP, Inc. Board of Directors members; and AAMVA International Standing Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs. The application deadline is Friday, Jan. 20, 2006. For more information, see AAMVA's Web site.