Safety

West Virginia Continues to Lead Collision Likelihood List

Bloomington, Ill., Sept. 28, 2009 – The number of vehicles on U.S. roadways has grown by 7 percent over the last five years. But the number of times those vehicles have collided with deer has swelled by much more than that.

Using its claims data, auto insurer State Farm estimates 2.4 million collisions between deer and vehicles occurred in the U.S. during the two-year period between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009 (100,000 per month). That’s 18.3 percent more than five years earlier. To put it another way, one of these unfortunate encounters occurs every 26 seconds (although they are much more likely during the last three months of the year and in the early evening).

MORE DEER-VEHICLE COLLISIONS    » read more »

August 27, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Automakers have now successfully implemented a voluntary agreement under which new cars and light trucks are engineered to be more compatible in front- and side-impact crashes. Since launching the agreement, manufacturers have been quickly increasing the percentage of vehicles with the compatibility engineering, and as of September 1, 2009, 100 percent of each participating manufacturers’ applicable vehicles will be made in a way that improves crash compatibility.    » read more »

Gov. Nixon reminds young Missourians that state law banning texting while driving takes effect today

August 28, 2009 -- LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. - Beginning today, it is illegal for drivers age 21 and under to send, read or write text messages while driving on Missouri roads. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Missouri State Highway Patrol Assistant Superintendent Lt. Col. Richard Coffey were in Lee's Summit today to remind young drivers and their parents that enforcement of the new Missouri law banning texting while driving is now in effect.    » read more »

Allstate rewards "America's most improved driving city" with free gas

NORTHBROOK, Ill., (July 8, 2009) -- The Allstate Insurance Company (NYSE: ALL) today released its fifth annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report™." The report ranks America's 200 largest cities in terms of car collision frequency to identify which cities have the safest drivers according to Allstate data. This year's report highlights America's most improved motorists.    » read more »

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announces Recovery Act Projects to address safety hazards and environmental damage at abandoned mines

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today $19.88 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to address safety hazards and environmental damage caused by abandoned mines. The 14 projects receiving Recovery Act funds are located in National Forests in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Michigan, and Montana.

"The funding provided by President Obama's Recovery Act will address safety hazards and correct environmental damage at neglected and abandoned mines around the country," said Vilsack.    » read more »

Urges Congress to pass Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act

Jun. 23, 2009 Washington, D.C. -- Local teenagers, Montgomery County Police Captain Tom Didone and Members of Congress joined Allstate today to unveil its live display featuring nearly 5,000 key chains, which represent the alarming number of teens who die each year in teen-related car crashes.    » read more »

Grants Could be Used to Install Positive Train Control Technology

June 22, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV) wrote to a key Senate Committee and requested at least $50 million in funding for a new railroad safety technology grant program, created by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008.    » read more »

Airlines continue to send repair work abroad despite security and safety concerns

June 18, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill this week followed up on a series of Department of Transportation Inspector General reports that have exposed gaping loopholes in the security and oversight of foreign repair work on domestic, commercial aircraft.

McCaskill questioned the heads of the national and regional airline associations about the industry’s increasing outsourcing of airline maintenance, including to non-FAA certified repair facilities.    » read more »

June 18, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Automakers today applauded the release of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s reauthorization proposal, "The Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009." According to the blueprint released today, the bill will provide Highway Trust Fund money to states conditional upon whether they enact primary safety belt enforcement laws and mandate the use of ignition interlock devices for first-time drunk driving offenders.    » read more »

Boxer and Snowe craft legislation on NTSB recommendations, greater FAA oversight for flight safety following Buffalo commuter plane crash

June 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) today announced the One Level of Safety Act, bipartisan legislation to restore confidence in America’s commercial aviation industry by addressing a number of the issues that came to light during the recent National Transportation Safety Board hearings on the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 outside of Buffalo, New York.    » read more »

Schumer To Make New Push To Pass Legislation Making Bird Strike Reporting Mandatory - Only 20% Of Strikes Are Currently Reported

June 9, 2009 -- Today, United States Senator Charles E. Schumer announced he will make a renewed push to pass his legislation, The Wildlife Strike Act, S. 1162, requiring the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to make bird strike data mandatory in the wake of a new report that reveals that only 20% of bird strikes in New York are reported. Schumer will push to have his legislation included as part of the FAA Reauthorization Bill which has already passed the House and is now moving through the Senate.    » read more »

Klobuchar, Nelson Announce Bill to Prevent Carbon Monoxide-Related Deaths; Legislation Would Enact Tougher Safety Standards

June 9, 2009 --Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced legislation today to combat deaths and injuries from carbon monoxide poisoning. The Residential Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act, modeled after successful similar legislation in Minnesota, would require the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to enforce stronger standards to protect people against the deadly dangers of carbon monoxide.

Senators Klobuchar and Nelson serve on the Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the commission. Klobuchar and Nelson introduced similar legislation during the 110th Congress.    » read more »

June 09,2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the Air Medical Service Safety Improvement Act of 2009, which aims to improve safety for flight crews, flight nurses, and passengers aboard emergency air medical service helicopters.    » read more »

“Nicole’s Law” promotes safety of children under 16 who participate in equestrian activities

June 8, 2009 -- LOXAHATCHEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today signed House Bill 169, “Nicole’s Law.” The legislation creates safety standards to minimize the number of serious or fatal head injuries to Florida youth sustained during equestrian activities and recreation.

“Today I am proud to sign legislation that will help ensure the safety of Florida’s children and prevent serious injuries that otherwise could have been prevented,” said Governor Crist. “I applaud our Legislature for taking action to protect Florida’s future leaders.”    » read more »

New Report Charts Changing Global Opinion Against the Weapon

May 29, 2009 -- (Geneva) - The prohibition on cluster munitions is firmly taking hold as more countries join the new treaty banning the weapon and hold-out states shift their policies in the right direction, says a report jointly released today by Human Rights Watch, Landmine Action, and Landmine Monitor.    » read more »