Safety Countermeasures: FROM VISION TO REALITY
Over the years, Fraydun Manocherian has called for judicial, enforcement and educational countermeasures to enhance traffic safety. Through continuous effort and the persistent lobbying of many other organizations with similar safety concerns, numerous suggested safety countermeasures are now a reality. These include:

1.	Establishing mandatory sanctions to restrict plea bargaining for DWI offenders.
2.	Programs that monitor judges to improve adjudication of DWI offenses.
3.	Assignment of higher priority to DWI/DUI cases by law enforcement officials and courts.
4.	Expansion of alcohol education to younger age groups (lower school) to comprehensively change social attitudes toward impaired driving.
5.	Increased public perception of the risk of being caught and punished for DWI. Expansion of alcohol education to younger age groups (lower school) to comprehensively change social attitudes toward impaired driving.
6.	Mandatory sanctions for DWI first offenders.
7.	Requirement of motorcycles to be equipped with turn signals.

Over the years our collective efforts have contributed toward significant progress in how the nation funds and administrates traffic safety, including:

NDR 1960
Passage of the National Driver Register Act of 1960, which established the National Driver Register as a result of close liaisons with state officials and private sector organizations.

Fraydun Manocherian served on the National Driver Register Advisory Committee from its inception until its dissolution in 1998 upon completion of its charge.

The National Driver Register (NDR) now called the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS), is a computerized database of information about drivers who have had their licenses revoked or suspended, or who have been convicted of serious traffic violations such as DWI.

Motor Vehicle Agencies use PDPS to prevent issuing licenses to problem drivers. Federal agencies that certify pilots, locomotive engineers and ship operators, use PDPS to prevent certifying or re-certifying individuals who have a problem driving record. Employers of motor vehicle operators also may use the PDPS to prevent hiring problem drivers. State Motor Vehicle Agencies provide PDPS with names of residents who have lost their license or who have been convicted of a serious traffic violation. When a person applies for a driver’s license or certification to operate planes, trains or ships, the state checks to see if the name is on the PDPS file. If the applicant has been reported to the PDPS as a problem driver, the license may be denied. The data is kept current, checked for accuracy and released only to those legally authorized to receive it.

NHSA 1966
Signing into law of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the Highway Safety Act in 1966 by President Johnson.

These acts placed the federal government in the leadership role of a comprehensive national program to reduce the number of injuries and deaths on America’s highways. The Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act gave authority for research and development activities and required the establishment of federal safety standards for motor vehicles and for tires. It required manufacturers to notify purchasers of any safety defects or noncompliance in vehicles or equipment.

The Highway Safety Act created the National Highway Safety Agency (NHSA). It also called for standards for state highway safety programs and forged the federal/state highway safety partnership by creating the state and community grant program. To provide coordination and guidance for highway safety programs at the state level, each state created a highway safety agency, whose programs were to be in accordance with Federal standards and must be approved by the Secretary of Transportation.

NHTSA 1970’s
Signing of the National Highway Safety Act of 1970 by President Nixon, which established the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
This Act re-designated the National Highway Safety Bureau (NHSB) as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and assigned it responsibility for driver and vehicle-related safety program standards. A research and test facility was authorized. NHTSA is responsible for reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes through setting and enforcing safety performance standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, and through grants to state and local governments to enable them to conduct effective local highway safety programs.

Signing of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1970 by President Nixon, which tangibly increased highway funding.

Use Of MASS MEDIA 1973
Signing of the Federal Aid-Highway Act of 1973 by President Nixon.

This landmark legislation authorized $4 million for the development of a series of 5 minute TV messages. It required the Secretary of Transportation to complete an evaluation of the use of mass media for informing the public about methods of reducing the number and severity of accidents and how mass media should be used to reach the driving public and target subgroups, such as youthful drivers.

Allocation of 402 Funding for Behavioral Programs
Federal funds are available under section 402 of the law to states on an annual basis, pro-rated by population and road mileage to assist in financing programs to remedy safety problems. The Federal government provides 75% of the cost and the states 25%. Behavioral programs address the role of driver behaviors and attitudes as principal elements contributing toward traffic safety: for example, drinking and driving, and wearing a seatbelt.

National Concern about DWI
Development of funding of mass media awareness campaigns by the federal Department of Transportation targeting DWI and Occupant Protection. National concern about DWI fatalities resulted in drinking and driving campaigns beginning in the 1970’s (“Friends Don’t Let Friends Drink and Drive”). The cumulative effect of these national media campaigns over the past 20 years has been instrumental in changing public opinion about DWI and saving over 20,000 lives. Now, 24 states and the District of Columbia have .08 BAC levels and all states have a 21-year- old minimum drinking laws.

1980’s - Raise Seatbelt Use
The effort to raise seatbelt use resulted in occupant protection campaigns which began in the mid-1980’s (Vince and Larry Crash Test Dummies). Since then, federal awareness campaigns combined with occupant protection incentive grants have motivated 49 states and the District of Columbia to enact seat belt laws. It is estimated that since then the use of seat belts has saved over 107,000 lives.