Message to the Congress
Transmitting the Annual Reports on Highway, Traffic, and Motor Vehicle Safety
Programs
To
the Congress of the
The
Highway Safety Act and the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, both
enacted in 1966, initiated a national effort to reduce traffic deaths and
injuries and require annual reports on the administration of the Acts. This is
the 19th year that these reports have been prepared for your review.
The
report on motor vehicle safety includes the annual reporting requirement in
Title I of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act of 1972 (bumper
standards).
In
the Highway Safety Acts of 1973, 1976, and 1978, the Congress expressed its
special interest in certain aspects of traffic safety that are addressed in the
volume on highway safety.
The
national outrage against drunk drivers, combined with growing safety belt use
and voluntary cooperation we have received from all sectors of American life,
have brought about even more improvements in traffic safety.
The
fatality rate, a measure of the risk of motor vehicle travel, decreased in 1985
to 2.47 percent, the lowest in more than two decades. This is a reduction of 26
percent over 1980 when the rate was 3.35 percent. In 1985, there were 43,795
fatalities, down from 44,257 fatalities in 1984 and a significant percent
decline from the 51,091 deaths that occurred in 1980 before this Administration
took office.
The
progress we have made is, of course, no consolation to the relatives and
friends of those 43,795 people who, despite the safety advances and greater
public awareness, lost their lives in 1985. But it is indicative of the
positive trend this Administration has established to make our roads safer.
While
a decrease in the number of fatalities is encouraging during a time of economic
prosperity and lower gas prices, the loss of approximately 120 lives per day on
our Nation's highways is still too high. Also, with the increasing motor
vehicle travel, we are faced with the threat of an even higher number of
traffic fatalities. Therefore, there is a continuing need for effective motor
vehicle and highway safety programs.
We
will continue to pursue highway and motor vehicle safety programs that are most
effective in reducing deaths and injuries. We are convinced that even during
these times of fiscal austerity, significant progress in traffic safety can be
achieved through the combined efforts of government, industry, and the public.
Ronald
Reagan
The
White House,