According to a report issued by the National Governors Association, the governor of New Jersey has a critical role to play for improving safety on the state’s roads. The report urges all governors to increase efforts to address the rising dangers experienced by motorists and pedestrians.
As a whole, the nation lags behind other developed countries in terms of roadway safety. Previous decades oversaw gains in traffic safety, but now the death toll is rising. In 2016, traffic fatalities went up by 5.6 percent compared to 2015. In that year, nearly 40 states saw the number of fatalities increase from the prior year. The executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association said that state executives have the power to coordinate and direct state agencies to focus their mission more clearly on safety. Governors should nurture collaboration among government agencies and set high goals for safety improvements.
The association’s report provides detailed information about proven strategies for cutting down the numbers of crashes and injuries. The guidance contains methods for strengthening existing safety initiatives and developing new policies.
With motor vehicle accidents becoming more common, the number of people injured by negligent drivers could increase as well. Behaviors like texting while driving, drinking or ignoring sleep needs all contribute to crashes. People who are injured in these types of collisions often require lengthy and costly medical treatment, and even if they have health insurance they often face high deductibles and copays. They might want to have a lawyer’s assistance when seeking a settlement from the at-fault motorist’s insurance company.