Study Shows Highway Safety Improvements Are Necessary in Indiana

Jan. 23, 2013

A study conducted by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety concluded that Indiana is in dire need of highway safety improvements. The 10th Annual Roadmap of Highway Safety Report  found that the most striking highway safety issue is the lack of a universal helmet law for riders to two-wheeled vehicles.

The report also showed that, despite strong seat belt laws, Indiana recorded 750 fatalities in 2011 due to Indiana Auto Accidents. Experts say that the first nine months of 2012 have seen a 7.1 percent increase in the number of auto accident deaths compared to 2011. These crashes cost taxpayers approximately $4.35 billion.

To improve safety in the state, the organization made several suggestions to the state’s legislators. They suggested changes including raising the minimum graduated licensing program entrance age to 16 years old, rather than 15 years old. The state’s legislators also were encouraged to toughen drinking and driving laws to include mandatory use of ignition interlock systems for convicted drunk drivers, in addition to compounding charges for anyone caught drinking and driving with a minor in the vehicle.

The Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin are hopeful these suggested changes are considered in an effort to better protect the public from the dangers of a car accident.