Arkansas ranks low when it comes to traffic safety laws
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Updated: April 17, 2007
Washington,D.C.-based Advocates for Highway Safety in its annual report ranked all 50 states when it comes to enacting laws that improve traffic safety.
Arkansas was credited with having 6.5 traffic-safety laws out of a recommended 15 - tying with South Dakota and ranking only ahead of Wyoming - which had five.
States credited with the most laws were Maryland, Illinois, Georgia, and North Carolina - which all had 13 - and Maine, Nevada, New Jersey and Washington state - which were credited with 12.5.
Other states that ranked low were Alaska and Ohio - which were credited with 7.5 laws - and Arizona, with seven.
Among laws the report examined where those that addressed seat belts, motorcycle helmets, booster seats, cell-phone use, drunk driving, sobriety checkpoints, and driving restrictions for teens and other new drivers.
According to the group, nearly 43,500 people died in traffic-related fatalities in 2005 - the highest since 1990.
(Copyright 2006 Newsroom Solutions, LLC)
