[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9018-S9019]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KERREY:
  S. 1155. A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, to make safety 
a priority of the Federal-aid highway program; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.


                    the highway safety priority act

  Mr. KERREY. Mr. President, there is a national health epidemic in 
America that does not receive the attention it deserves. This epidemic 
is responsible for the loss of 1.2 million pre-retirement years of life 
a year; more than is lost to cancer or heart disease. It is the leading 
cause of death for Americans between the ages of 15 and 24. Last year, 
more than 41,900 Americans died from this epidemic and more than 3 
million suffered serious injury. In Nebraska alone, the epidemic 
claimed 293 lives in 1996 up from 254 the year before. The only good 
news has been that in Nebraska, during the first 6 months of this year, 
the death rate has slowed slightly. Most tragic, is the fact that this 
epidemic is almost 100 percent preventable.
  This epidemic I am talking about is death and injuries related to 
driving. While America has made significant progress in reducing 
traffic accident rates, deaths, and injuries have trended upward in the 
1990's.
  Traffic accidents impose extraordinary costs on our health care 
system. About $14 billion a year in health care costs are attributable 
to traffic accidents. Taxpayers bear $11.4 billion of that cost. In 
terms of lost productivity, property damage and health care costs, 
these accidents extracted $150 billion out of the economy for the last 
year that statistics are available.
  The most important point is that traffic accidents are almost 
completely preventable. The smallest actions of a driver can make the 
difference between life and death. One lapse in judgment, one moment of 
inattention can end in tragedy. As drivers, too often, we take for 
granted the immense power and responsibility we possess when behind the 
wheel. As public officials we need to be constantly attentive to the 
need to make our transportation system safer.
  The Congress is working on legislation to reauthorize the Nation's 
basic highway law. It is one of the most important bills the Senate 
will consider. I strongly believe that we should use this opportunity 
to commit ourselves to enhancing safety on America's highways and 
byways. In that spirit, I introduce the Highway Safety Priority Act.
  This legislation systematically makes clear that safety is a priority 
in highway construction and maintenance programs. It sends a strong 
message to Federal, State, and local transportation planners that they 
should focus on enhancing safety.
  I encourage my colleagues to study and support the Highway Safety 
Priority Act which I introduce today.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1155

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Highway Safety Priority 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. SAFETY OF FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS.

       (a) Approval of 3R Projects on National Highway System.--
     Section 106(b)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is amended 
     by inserting before the period at the end the following: 
     ``and includes the use of full-width lanes and shoulders''.
       (b) Standards.--Section 109 of title 23, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Safety.--To the maximum extent practicable, a design 
     described in paragraph (1) shall include the use of full-
     width lanes and shoulders to enhance highway and bridge 
     safety.''; and
       (2) in subsection (p), by adding at the end the following: 
     ``The laws (including regulations, directives, and standards) 
     shall ensure appropriate roadside safety improvements, lane 
     and shoulder widening, alignment and sight distance 
     improvements, and conspicuous traffic control devices and 
     pavement markings.''.
       (c) Certification Acceptance.--Section 117(b) of title 23, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting before the period 
     at the end the following: ``, including standards that 
     preserve and enhance the safety and mobility of highway 
     users''.
       (d) Set Aside for 4R Projects.--Section 118(c)(2)(B) of 
     title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting before 
     the period at the end the following: ``and that improves 
     safety while reducing congestion''.
       (e) Metropolitian Planning.--Section 134 of title 23, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by inserting 
     ``safety and'' after ``maximize'';
       (2) in subsection (f)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``safely and'' after 
     ``more'';
       (B) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (16) as 
     paragraphs (5) through (17), respectively;
       (C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
       ``(4) The need to prevent accidents involving rail and road 
     users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, and motor vehicles, 
     and to reduce the frequency and severity of such 
     accidents.'';
       (D) in paragraph (12) (as redesignated by subparagraph 
     (B)), by inserting ``safe and'' after ``enhance the''; and
       (E) in paragraph (14) (as redesignated by subparagraph 
     (B)), by inserting ``safety,'' after ``economic,''; and
       (3) in subsection (g)(2)(C)--
       (A) in clause (i), by inserting ``and safety'' after 
     ``operational''; and
       (B) in clause (ii), by inserting ``safety and'' after 
     ``maximize the''.

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