Survey of the States

Periodically, GHSA surveys the State Highway Safety Offices on specific issues and publishes the results. Below are the most recent Survey of the States reports.

Curbing Distracted Driving: 2010 Survey of State Safety Programs

In 2010, GHSA asked state highway safety agencies to complete a survey detailing their distracted driving efforts. Fifty states plus the District of Columbia, Guam and American Samoa responded. The results of this survey are published in this report.

The report details a host of approaches states are implementing, including: stronger laws, increased data collection, new education programs, public/private partnerships and a growing reliance on new media to spread the message.

Download the complete report below. Printed copies will be mailed to GHSA Members. A limited number of additional printed copies are available: call GHSA at 202-789-0942 or email khowe@ghsa.org.

Curbing Distracted Driving: 2010 Survey of State Safety Programs [3.5 MB, 60 pgs.]
Distracted Driving Laws
News Release: New Report Shows States Increasing Efforts on Distracted Driving (June 15, 2010)

Motorcycle Safety Programs

Published 2008

In 2007, GHSA asked state highway safety agencies to complete a survey detailing motorcycle safety activities for the past three years. Fifty states plus the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico submitted completed surveys. The results of this survey are published in this report.

The published report examines state motorcycle safety activities designed to mitigate or reverse the recent annual increase in motorcycle crashes. It includes tables on state education and licensing requirements and helmet laws.

To order a printed copy, call GHSA at 202-789-0942 or email headquarters@ghsa.org.

Executive Summary [1.1 MB, 18 pgs.]
Survey Responses by State or Jurisdiction
Select Recommendations from NHTSA Assessments [227 KB, 2 pgs.]
Tables [444 KB, 11 pgs.]
News Release: New Report Examines Alarming Increase in Motorcycle Rider Deaths (June 18, 2008)
Tips for Sharing the Road With Motorcyclists

Speeding

Published 2005

This report details efforts to control speeding by motorists. It comes ten years after Congress repealed the National Maximum Speed Limit (NMSL), which required states to keep maximum speed limits at 65 mph in rural areas and 55 mph in urban areas. It summarizes efforts to reduce speeding-related fatalities and provides a snapshot of individual state countermeasures.

Of the 50 GHSA jurisdictions that responded, 38 indicated a speed limit increase since 1994. Given the tremendous gains in safety belt use coupled with the increasingly safe design of vehicles, states should have experienced a significant decline in speeding-related fatalities. However, statistics show speeding-related fatalities have remained fairly level since NMSL was repealed, which indicate that safety benefits have been minimized by increasing speeds.

To order a printed copy, call GHSA at 202-789-0942 or email headquarters@ghsa.org.

Executive Summary [195 KB, 10 pgs.]
Download the Full Report [627 KB, 96 pgs.]
Survey Responses by State or Jurisdiction
News Release: Speeding a Serious Problem 10 Years After National Speed Limit Repeal (June 13, 2005)

TEA-21 Programs

Published 2003

This report features State Highway Safety Office accomplishments from 1999-2002, implemented using the approximately $500 million in federal funds received annually. Thirty-eight states and two territories responded to the survey. Topics covered include occupant protection, child passenger safety and impaired driving as well as traffic records data system improvements.

To order a printed copy, call GHSA at 202-789-0942 or email headquarters@ghsa.org.

Executive Summary [112 KB, 5 pgs.]

Underage Drinking Prevention

Published 2001

The purpose of this survey was to find out what types of underage drinking programs and activities different state highway safety offices were undertaking. Prevention/education, enforcement, public policy, media relations and efforts for local programs to achieve self-sufficiency are all areas outlined in the report. A total of 39 states responded to the survey.

To order a printed copy, call GHSA at 202-789-0942 or email headquarters@ghsa.org.

Executive Summary [170 KB, 7 pgs.]

Aggressive Driving

Published 2000

GHSA's Aggressive Driving survey was conducted to determine what the states were doing to address the problem of aggressive driving.

The report outlines the various legislative, enforcement and educational programs states had put in place at the time of the survey. Information is included for the 37 states and the District of Columbia that responded to the survey.

To order a printed copy, call GHSA at 202-789-0942 or email headquarters@ghsa.org.

Safety Belts

Published 1998

Report information includes the safety belt usage rate in each state, percentage change in belt use during the past 5-10 years, the greatest challenges to buckling up and to what extent a given state pursued goals consistent with the national Buckle Up America Campaign. GHSA members also provide a short summary on the latest safety belt programs in their respective states.

To order a printed copy, call GHSA at 202-789-0942 or email headquarters@ghsa.org.