AAA Hails Signing of Transportation Bill as Victory for Safety and Mobility.

WASHINGTON -- As President Bush today signed the $286 billion transportation bill into law, AAA said the legislation will not only help advance the safety and mobility needs of motorists, pedestrians and public transit riders but also will help those most vulnerable on the nation's roadways.

AAA, which actively supported passage of the landmark bill, says the legislation includes a number of important provisions aimed at making U.S. roadways safer for children and senior drivers. According to the nation's largest association for motorists, the legislation includes important funding to support senior mobility, intersection safety, child passenger safety and primary seatbelt law enforcement.

"AAA continues to focus its advocacy efforts on scientifically proven initiatives that prevent crashes before they occur," said Susan G. Pikrallidas, AAA vice president of Public Affairs. "We applaud the President and the Congress for their work in passing this important legislation that addresses the epidemic of motor vehicle crashes in America."

In addition, AAA said passage of the "Safe Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users" (SAFETEA-LU) lays the foundation for addressing long-term funding and mobility issues through the creation of a Blue Ribbon Commission that will include user groups.

Among provisions of the legislation of particular importance to AAA:

Emphasis on safety planning processes that target high crash areas
such as intersections. This new highway safety improvement program
requires states to develop comprehensive strategic highway safety
plans that utilize crash data and consider high fatality segments of
public roads. Intersection improvements are among specifically listed
projects that are eligible for funding.

New efforts aimed at senior mobility. Two significant new safety
programs will help address senior mobility and safety. The first will
enable low cost improvements such as signage and pavement markings.
The second will allow for comprehensive research and development
programs to improve older driver safety.

Rural Road safety. Rural road safety improvements are a component
of the Highway Safety Improvement Program and will be funded at
$90 million per year.

Primary seat belt enforcement. The new law will offer both incentive
grants to states that pass primary seat belt laws, and continue to
fund the existing occupant protection program that provides grants to
states that enact at least four out of six requirements.

Child Passenger Safety Incentive Grants. The final law includes
$25 million over 4 years for incentive grants to states that enact and
enforce booster seat laws.

Vehicle Crash Causation. The U.S. Department of Transportation is
required to conduct an on-scene motor vehicle crash causation study in
conjunction with the National Academy of Sciences.

Blue Ribbon Commission. Congress will create a commission that will
offer recommendations for how to fund the future of our transportation
system. The criteria for membership on the commission references
highway and transit users of the system.

"AAA and its clubs throughout the U.S. worked hard for the passage of this extraordinarily comprehensive and complex piece of legislation by staying focused on critical safety provisions," said Pikrallidas. "The outcome represents a net gain in safety for our members, and the public."

As North America's largest motoring and leisure-travel organization, AAA provides its 48 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully-tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.