Oregon and Washington Get High Marks for Preventing Traffic Injuries
A professional nursing association recently gave high marks to the state governments of Oregon and Washington for preventing auto accident injuries. On their web site, the Emergency Nurses Association(ENA) looked at roadway safety laws in all fifty states, using a thirteen point criteria to rank the effectiveness of each states' ability to prevent traffic injuries. Factors include seat belt use, child passenger safety, graduated driver licensing for teens, and how much authority state authorities have to maintain and evaluate a state trauma system. Oregon and Washington were the only states to receive a best possible score of thirteen.
Past reports from this organization have had positive results. In 2006, Arizona was at the bottom
of the list, but emergency room nurses worked with state legislatures to enact laws aimed at making Arizona a safer place to drive. With over 40,000 traffic fatalities a year, this is important work.
