The NHTSA’s top priority is to make sure that all drivers and road users are safe. The organization does this by continuously assessing risks to road safety and putting policies and procedures in place to make the roads a safer environment for everyone with fewer accidents.
The NHTSA identifies five traffic events that they are especially focused on preventing:
- Driving under the influence
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Driving while distracted
- Driving while sleepy and speeding
In the era of cellphones, distracted driving is a serious worry. Data from 2023 shows that 3,275 persons lost their lives in traffic accidents due to distracted driving.
This number is equivalent to 8% of all driving-related deaths. Because of this, the NHTSA has been stepping up its efforts to stop people from using phones while driving and reminding drivers that it is against the law in 49 states in the country to do so.
This summer, the NHTSA fined $600
When the NHTSA started the “Put the Phone Away or Pay” campaign earlier in April of this year, law enforcement on the highways placed more of an emphasis on enforcing laws against distracted driving.
Although it is a problem that affects people of all ages, it is especially noteworthy as young people frequently witness the phenomena of texting and driving.
This summer, many families will be traveling throughout the state, so it’s vital to keep in mind that texting and driving can result in serious consequences.
The NHTSA’s “Put the Phone Away or Pay” campaign is one way they spread knowledge of the risks associated with distracted driving, but they also depend on states to penalize this conduct in order to eradicate it.
One of the worst penalties for distracted driving is found in New Jersey, where a third offense of texting and driving carries a fine of between $600 and $800.
Maine is one of the states with the highest penalties for distracted driving; after your first infraction, you can be fined $500 or more.
But it’s actually Oregon that wins. You will receive a $1,000 fine for your first offense. You are fined $2,000 for a second offense. If this is your third offense, you could face up to six months in jail in addition to fines of $2,500 or more.
Read Also: Police Report Over 500 Red-Light Violations in Manteca in Just One Month
Additional state-wide efforts to maintain safe roads
Another major issue on the roads is speeding, and states have implemented a number of programs to discourage drivers from exceeding the speed limit and putting other road users’ lives in danger.
One of the most popular methods used by states to monitor speeding and help law enforcement impose speeding-related fines is automated camera systems.
The installation of red-light cameras and, at the most extreme, speed-limiting devices in the cars of drivers who have been caught exceeding the speed limit are examples of additional measures.
Ironically, when it becomes evident that the speed limit is too low and that the majority of cars are exceeding it, some jurisdictions have even increased the speed limit in an effort to increase uniformity on key routes and interstates.
However, maintaining life safety in a new era of automated driving technologies is probably going to be the NHSA’s next major problem.
