Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety are confident that the Motor Vehicle Highway Safety Improvement Act of 2011, (MVHSIA) once passed, will reduce the number of future injuries and traffic fatalities on American roadways each year.
Manhattan car accident lawyers know that a bill focused on improving vehicle safety and stiffening state traffic laws, among other things, may be the answer to reducing car accidents in New York City and elsewhere throughout the country.
EIN News reports that the Democratic leaders of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has introduced new legislation to enhance consumer information regarding vehicle safety, improve safety of vehicles, and progress traffic safety laws from state to state. MVHSIA, or Mariah’s Law, is named after a teen from Arkansas who was killed in a car accident involving a distracted driver.
One provision of the MVHSIA Act is the proposal of the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection Act introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. The STANDUP Act would federalize consistent GDL programs from state to state and require certain restrictions be placed on teens while they are learning to drive. The bill also proposes that teens be restricted in nighttime driving hours; limit the number of teen passengers riding with teen drivers; and ban cell phone use with the exception of emergency call situations.
“I want to take every reasonable safety precaution to ensure that our teen drivers are safe and well-prepared for the serious responsibility that comes with getting a license,” said Gillibrand (D-NY). “This legislation will give young drivers better education and more experience before they get out on the roads, keeping us all safer and saving lives.”
Another provision of MVHSIA Act is protecting consumers and giving them more access to government information regarding vehicle safety. It would authorize that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to set a standard for performance and reliability of vehicle safety systems operated and controlled by electronic systems.
“This bill is about saving lives,” said Senator Mark Pryor, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance. “We’ve strengthened programs designed to stop dangerous driving behavior, and we’ve stepped up vehicle safety so that families are protected by strong safety standards and devices when an accident does occur.”
According to Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, New York is in need of the following highway safety laws:
- Restrict all drivers from text messaging.
- Impose that a BAC Test Law be mandatory when drivers are killed.
- Set a minimum age limit to obtain an unrestricted license at 18 years-old.
- Place restrictions on cell phone use for teens learning to drive.
Placing restrictions on teen drivers and stiffening safety laws in New York is only half the battle. New York motorists need to strive to be better drivers each and every day to improve safety on roadways.
The Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC represent victims in Queens, Manhattan and the surrounding areas. If you have been severely injured in a New York City car accident, call 1-877-313-7673 to set up a free consultation to discuss your case with an experienced injury lawyer.
Additional Resources:
Safety Advocates Praise Senate Introduction of Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Legislation, by PR Newswire, EIN News
August Proven to be One of the Deadliest Months of the Year for Car Accidents in New York, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, July 29, 2011
Teen Driver Guide Enhances Knowledge in an Effort to Reduce Manhattan Teen Car Accidents, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, July 7, 2011
