VIRGINIA HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM AND ENFORCEMENT

THE VIRGINIA STATE HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM AND THE ENFORCING AGENCIES PARTICIPATING IN ITS ENFORCEMENT ARE DISCUSSED. THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS IS INVOLVED THROUGH ITS ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM OF THE INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SIGNS, SIGNALS AND MARKINGS, AND THE DESIGN AND MAINTENANCE OF THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM. THE PROGRAM INVOLVES TWO PHASES OF SAFETY ACTIVITY, THAT OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY STANDARDS. THE HIGHWAY SAFETY DIVISION WAS ESTABLISHED BY AN ACT PASSED BY THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 1968. ITS DIRECTOR REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE COMMISSIONER OF ADMINISTRATION WHOSE OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO A SPECIAL COMMISSION SEEKING TO REMOVE SOME OF THE BURDEN FROM THE GOVERNOR. THERE IS ALSO A COMMISSION CONSISTING OF 11 MEMBERS APPOINTED DIRECTLY BY THE GOVERNOR AND WHICH IS ADVISORY TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE HIGHWAY SAFETY DIVISION. THE COORDINATING COMMITTEE, WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE HIGHWAY SAFETY DIVISION AS ITS CHAIRMAN, ESTABLISHED BY LAW, CONSTITUTES THE HIGHWAY SAFETY POLICY COMMITTEE. AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS ESTABLISHED BY LAW AND THE LAW STIPULATES THAT THERE MUST BE A HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMISSION IN EACH FIRST AND SECOND CLASS CITY AND IN EACH COUNTY OF VIRGINIA. THE LOCAL HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMISSION DEVELOPS A HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM FOR SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNOR THROUGH THE HIGHWAY SAFETY DIVISION. THE SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS OF THE HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMISSION ARE GIVEN. THERE IS A PUBLIC INFORMATION DIRECTOR, A HIGHWAY RESEARCH COUNCIL IN CHARLOTTESVILLE AND A HIGHWAY RESEARCH SECTION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VA. AND SIX HIGHWAY PROGRAM COORDINATORS (ONE BEING ASSIGNED TO EACH OF THE SIX STATE POLICE DIVISIONS) WHO WORK WITH LOCAL HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMISSIONS. A BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS IS BEING MADE OF MONEY EXPENDED IN EACH AREA OF HIGHWAY SAFETY. FATAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ARE ANALYZED. THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS ON THE HABITUAL OFFENDERS ACT, FEDERAL FUNDING AND ITS ALLOCATION, GENERAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR OFFICIALS AND DRIVING PUBLIC, DRIVER EDUCATION PROJECTS, MODEL TRAFFIC ORDINANCE, AND OPERATING BUDGET. THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES IS PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH LICENSING AND SUSPENSION, REVOCATION, AND THE INSURANCE LAWS. STATE POLICE ARE PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH ENFORCEMENT. THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT IS PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF HIGHWAYS TOGETHER WITH TRAFFIC ENGINEERING. THE HIGHWAY SAFETY DIVISION IS CONCERNED WITH HIGHWAY SAFETY AND ALL PHASES NECESSARY TO REDUCE CRASH RATE.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proc Hwy SaFETY CONFERENCE, PP 28-42
• Corporate Authors:

  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg

  Department of Agronomy
  Blacksburg, VA  United States  24061
• Authors:
  • Hanna, J T
• Publication Date: 1970-12

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration; Benefit cost analysis; Committees; Crash analysis; Driver licenses; Driver training; Education; Expenditures; Fatalities; Highway departments; Highway operations; Highway safety; Prevention; Safety; Standards; Traffic crashes; Traffic violators; Vehicle safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Enforcement; Fund allocations; Highway administration; Programs
• Old TRIS Terms: Habitual traffic violator; Vehicular safety
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00221210
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 10 1971 12:00AM