March 19, 2003

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) urges you to allow for increased FY 2004 funding for federal behavioral highway safety grant programs. These programs provide funding to states to address inadequate use of safety belts and child restraints, impaired driving, speeding and aggressive driving, pedestrian and bicycle safety and other human behavioral issues involving drivers and road users. GHSA is the non-profit association representing state highway safety agencies. Its members are appointed by their Governors and are responsible for administering the federal highway safety programs. The Administration’s FY 2004 budget request assumes level funding for behavioral safety programs (the Section 402 grant program and a Section 412 data grant program). The Department of Transportation has set lofty goals for reducing total fatalities, improving safety belt and child restraint use and for reducing impaired driving yet has requested no additional funds for these programs to achieve those goals. Despite the Administration’s commitment to safety, funding for behavioral safety programs would be less than 2% of the total federal-aid highway program in FY 2004.Progress in highway safety has stagnated the last few years. If the federally-funded state effort is not enhanced, then additional fatalities above the 42,000 level can be expected. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that there will be 50,000 motor vehicle-related fatalities by 2008 if the current highway safety effort is simply maintained. If states are going to address this public health problem and make progress in reducing motor vehicle-related deaths and injuries, then additional federal assistance is urgently needed. States need the additional funding to purchase paid media for safety campaigns, pay for expanded enforcement of safety laws, purchase equipment and support training for law enforcement, judges and others. States also need funds to address emerging issues such as distracted, fatigued and aggressive driving and to fund programs for target populations such as young drivers and older drivers.GHSA urges the Budget Committee to assume enhanced funding for behavioral highway safety grant programs in the FY 2004 budget resolution.Sincerely,

Kathryn R. Swanson
Director, Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety
Chair, Governors Highway Safety Association