A new report from the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety has given Virginia a red rating. Because the commonwealth has less than 7 of the 15 laws that the safety group considers optimal for highway safety, our state has earned a low rating.
AHAS ranked Virginia so low because the commonwealth lacks necessary safety laws, like banning texting while driving. The report also found that the laws on impaired divers were not tough enough. The group also took issue with the lack of an ignition interlock law and lack of mandatory blood alcohol content testing for impaired drivers. Shockingly, the study finds that Virginia’s motor vehicle accidents cost the economy $5.2 billion each year.
Virginia ranks among the lowest eight states in the United States. The best rating, green, was given to a total of 17 states, including the District of Columbia. The remaining states received a yellow rating.
It’s clear Virginia has a lot of work to do to get our roads on the right track. As a car accident attorney, I know all too well how dangerous our roads can be. It’s important for our local lawmakers to take studies like this one into consideration when it comes to analyzing our area’s safety. By taking constructive criticism like this, we can prevent lives from being lost. Clearly, there is a lot of room for improvement in our commonwealth. Click here to learn more about Virginia’s accident statistics.
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