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For Immediate Release NEWS RELEASE Statement of Gregory Cohen, P.E., President
and CEO of the American Highway Users Alliance, in Response to AAA Report on "Crashes
vs. Congestion -
What's the Cost to Society?" WASHINGTON,
DC (March 5, 2008) - "The American Highway Users Alliance (The Highway Users)
commends AAA for the release of this important report at a crucial time in the
fight for support for better highways, bridges and safety programs. We
are currently at a historic crossroads as Congress prepares to reauthorize federal
transportation programs in 2009. The Highway Trust Fund is on the verge of bankruptcy
and our nation's leaders only have a short window of time to reform the future
of highway spending and set priorities, chief among them safety as highlighted
by the AAA report. Of the 42,642 people killed in traffic
crashes on U.S. roads in 2006, nearly 60 percent of the fatalities (24,801) involved
a departure from the roadway and 21 percent (8,797) were at an intersection or
were intersection-related (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2006
Annual Assessment of Motor Vehicle Crashes). While there are
many causes of vehicle crashes, research from the U.S. Department of Transportation
indicates that we may avoid approximately one-third of these fatalities if poor
road conditions and outdated geometry and road hardware were improved during the
planning, design and construction process. The Highway Users
supports the recommendations of the AAA report and is committed to work with them
to ensure Congress passes legislation that establishes both mobility and safety
priorities for the future." To access the AAA report, click
here. The American Highway Users Alliance represents
motorists, RV enthusiasts, truckers, bus companies, motorcyclists, and a broad
cross-section of businesses that depend on safe and efficient highways to transport
their families, customers, employees, and products. Highway Users members pay
the taxes that finance the federal highway program and advocate public policies
that dedicate those taxes to improved highway safety and mobility. For additional
information please visit www.highways.org.
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