Oregon, Washington State Doing the Most to Promote Roadway Safety, According to New Emergency Nurses Association National...( WASHINGTON Nov. 19 -- At a time when...),Health

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At a time when tens of thousands of Americans are injured or die on our nation's roadways each year, Oregon and Washington state received top scores in a new roadway safety scorecard released today by the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota received the lowest scores. The report, 2008 ENA National Scorecard on State Roadway Laws: A Blueprint for Injury Prevention, examines roadway safety laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and scores each based on 13 criteria.

The 2008 ENA NationalScorecard ranks states based on 13 types of legislation that address: seat belt use; child passenger safety; graduated driver licensing for teens; universal motorcycle helmet requirements; ignition interlock devices to prevent drunk driving; and giving the proper officials the authority to develop, maintain and evaluate a state trauma system. States received one point for each type of legislation. Oregon and Washington were the only states to receive the best possible score of 13. Arkansas scored only three points, and North Dakota and South Dakota scored only four points each.

"Every year, there are more than 40,000 deaths on our nation's roadways," said ENA President Denise King, RN, MSN, CEN. "We can reduce those numbers and we know how. When it comes to injury prevention, the public is in the driver's seat. We must call on our policy makers to pass laws that are proven to reduce injuries and fatalities. Across the country, emergency department nurses, who treat roadway accident victims every day, are encouraging more and better traffic safety laws."

The ENA released its first National Scorecard in 2006. That year, Arizona received the lowest score. In the intervening two years, the Arizona Eme
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