Only Five States Achieve Top Rating for Road Safety Laws in National Report

The recent Roadmap to Safety report by Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety reveals a concerning picture of road safety regulations across the United States. Among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., only five states have achieved a top “green” rating for their stringent road safety laws, highlighting a significant gap in protections for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians nationwide.

This annual report arrives as Congress gears up to update the nation’s surface transportation law in 2026, a crucial step that will directly influence safety funding and policies for the foreseeable future.

The Leading Safest States

The five states recognized for their commitment to road safety are:

• Maryland
• New York
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Washington

(Additionally, Washington, D.C., received a green rating, although it is not classified as a state.)

These states have implemented stricter regulations that contribute to safer roadways, such as enhanced alcohol consumption laws for drivers and increased use of red-light camera systems.

Despite their commendable efforts, none of these leading states received a perfect score in the evaluation.

Widespread Shortcomings Across the Nation

Unfortunately, the report reveals that a staggering 45 states received failing grades for their road safety laws. Many states continue to lack fundamental protections, such as:

• Comprehensive bans on texting while driving
• Open container laws regulating alcohol in vehicles
• Enforcement of red-light camera systems
• Updated measures to prevent impaired driving

To address these deficiencies, Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety has proposed 18 vital safety laws that every state should consider adopting. They also called on Congress to leverage federal funding to motivate state-level improvements.

“As Congress develops and enhances their priorities for transportation law reauthorization, it’s essential that the safety of all road users remains a primary focus,” the report emphasizes. “This is an opportunity for Congress to ensure robust funding for lifesaving roadway infrastructure and promote the adoption of proven traffic safety laws, while resisting any efforts to weaken or eliminate critical safety regulations.”

Vehicle Safety: An Ongoing Concern

The report commends the U.S. Department of Transportation for enacting a rule that mandates automatic emergency braking in new vehicles. However, critics note that progress on other crucial safety regulations—such as lane-departure warning systems, impaired driving prevention measures, and hot-car safety systems—has been disappointingly slow.

While advancements in vehicle safety are vital, the Advocates stress that robust state laws are equally important in reducing fatal accidents on the roadways. “We support federal initiatives that encourage state actions on traffic safety laws, including effective federal incentive grant programs that come with accountability and oversight. Historical evidence shows that withholding state highway funds for inaction can also effectively drive lifesaving improvements,” the report concludes.