In 2009, National Public Radio reported that there are approximately 246 million registered vehicles and about 209 million licensed drivers in the United States. The federal government, through various agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), promotes safe roadways and driver practices for the massive motorist population. There are many other stakeholders in the highway safety arena, and these vested organizations, businesses, manufacturers, advocacy groups, and experts meet annually at the National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities.
Held since the early 1980s, the conference, also known as Lifesavers, has been dedicated to reducing human loss and injuries on our nation's highways. Last year's conference, held in Philadelphia, drew almost 1,800 participants from the public and private sectors. Lifesaver 2011 will be held in Phoenix, from March 27 to March 29, 2011.
During the three-day conference, organizations will offer a variety of workshops and speakers. U. S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and NHTSA Administrator David Strickland are slated speakers as this year's meeting, as are local Arizona officials. Conference topics will include cultural competency-related matters, child safety, distracted driving, adult protection, research, law-enforcement concerns and the hotbed topic of drunk/impaired driving. A number of conference workshops will be offered on this issue, including No Refusal policies, Federal Highway Bill Reauthorizations, DUI Courts, DUI evidence and Close Supervision Practices.
Because Arizona suffered 219 human losses due to alcohol-related crashes in 2009, law enforcement and prosecution are notoriously aggressive in the State. While losses declined dramatically, drunk-driving deaths accounted for more than a fourth of Arizona's traffic fatalities.
Since one of the major focuses of this year's Lifesavers conference is impaired/drunk drivers, it is certain that tougher measures, including the developing DADDS technology, will follow. For drivers charged with drunk-driving offenses, more than legal rights might be at stake. Having a skilled Phoenix DUI attorney on such a driver's side will be necessary to protect his or her rights, property and privileges.
