AAA Colorado ~ EnCompass Magazine

AAA has a long tradition of commitment to traffic safety and transportation issues for all drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

Today, I am proud to say that the AAA Association has continued that tradition on a national level, while AAA Colorado is doing its best to effect positive change in the state. For 2007, AAA Colorado is focused on the issue of distracted driving. Other key traffic safety and transportation issues include:

Teen drivers and GDL

Several years ago AAA Colorado helped form the Colorado Teen Driving Coalition and promoted legislation to establish a graduated driver's licensing (GDL) system. In 1999, the first two elements of GDL were enacted, while the last piece was enacted in 2005.

It is now critical to educate teens and parents about the law. AAA Colorado and the Colorado Teen Driving Coalition have worked with the Colorado Department of Transportation to develop two informational tools-a teen driving website (www.coteendriver.com) and an informational brochure — that were launched by Governor Bill Ritter and his wife Jeannie on February 1. AAA Colorado is committed to promoting these educational tools. Visit www.aaa.com/teens for more information. Additionally, AAA Colorado's traffic safety specialist has developed presentations focused at teens about to get permits, teens with permits, and teens who have recently completed their first year of driving.

Seat belts

In 2005, AAA Colorado helped form the Colorado Safety Belt Coalition that supported 2006 legislation to change the state's current secondary seat belt law to a primary one. The bill failed by one vote.

On Jan. 31, 2007, a similar bill, SB07-151, was introduced by Senator Peter Groff (D-District 33). Once again, AAA Colorado will be a strong proponent of the bill. For periodic updates and how you can help support the bill, visit www.aaa.com/safety.

Transportation needs

Anyone who has driven home on a Sunday along the I-70 corridor knows that the state's population and number of vehicles are putting a tremendous strain on the roads. Governor Ritter believes this is a critical issue and has formed a blue ribbon panel to study it. What to do and how to finance solutions are highly complex and controversial.

AAA Colorado is monitoring the situation and is ready to support a reasonable, workable plan. AAA Colorado has offered its support to the governor's panel. It also sits on the transportation committee of the Denver Chamber of Commerce and recently shared results from a nationwide transportation survey conducted by the AAA Association. (To find out more, and to let your voice be heard, Click here to take survey.)

With your support on these and other issues, we can make Colorado's roads safer for all drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

Tony DeNovellis
President and CEO


Your Comments Requested . . .

	Do you have any thoughts on how this problem can be better addressed? If so, please send your comments to: EnCompass magazine, 4100 E. Arkansas Ave., Denver, CO 80222, or to president@colorado.aaa.com.