Our roads and bridges may be dangerously outdated and in need of new funding for repairs, but at least Washingtonians are sensible when it comes to the laws we have to encourage people to drive safer.
According to a new report released by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, a coalition of business and public safety groups, Washington ranked in the top ten states for highway safety regulations that keep people safe.
Washington’s high score was due to our strong driver and rider protection laws, bans on texting while driving and talking on the phone while driving, booster seats requirements for children, and comparably tough impaired driving laws.
The one area in which Washington did not perform well was restrictions on teen driving.
The best statistic from the report, however? Last year Washington’s seat belt law saved 176 people from fatal injuries during auto accidents.