2011
According to the AAA Mid-Atlantic, the state of Pennsylvania has not kept up with the rest of the nation and at least one neighbor state in reducing the number of annual car accident fatalities. Across the United States traffic fatalities during 2010 decreased around three percent and the fatal car accident rate in Delaware decreased by an astonishing 10 percent. The fatal car accident rate in Pennsylvania in 2010 increased by almost 5.5 percent, which is the first increase after a period of declining rates.
United States Transportation Secretary celebrated the national statistics where the number of fatal car accidents in 2010 was the lowest number since 1949; a time when millions less traveled the roads. The number of fatalities from car accidents in the United States in 2010 was 32,788, which was down from 33,808 in 2009. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, highway deaths in Pennsylvania increased by 68 to 1,324 in 2010.
Highway safety advocates have urged Pennsylvania to toughen its driving laws. Groups like AAA Mid-Atlantic would like legislators in Harrisburg to bolster measures against distracted driving, non-use of seat belts and teenage driving laws. One proposed bill on teenage driving would increase the number of training hours behind the wheel from 50 to 65 hours. Of those hours 10 would have to be at night and five would be during inclement weather. Teenage drivers ages 16 and one half to 18 would be limited to one passenger excluding family members.
The bill would also expand the enforcement of seat belts. Drivers who allow passengers under the age of 18 to not wear seat belts could be automatically pulled over. Finally, safety advocates would like Pennsylvania to adopt an anti-texting while driving law.
Source: The Time Herald, "AAA: Pennsylvania slipped into reverse for reducing highway fatalities last year," 4/10/11
Tags: Pennsylvania, car accident, fatal car accident, teenage drivers, traffic fatalitiesComments: Leave a commentView the Original article