With Nebraska experiencing its highest roadway fatality rate in 17 years, state officials and safety advocates gathered for the annual Highway Safety Conference to discuss strategies for reducing traffic deaths.
Hosted by the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office (NDOT HSO) on Feb. 19-20 in Kearney, the event emphasized education, policy initiatives and community engagement.
Attendees included law enforcement, educators, healthcare workers and policymakers, all united in the goal of achieving zero roadway fatalities.
A key discussion centered on legislative efforts, including LB600, which seeks to strengthen the state’s Move Over Law, introduce speed safety cameras in work and school zones and implement adaptive speed limits. Another bill, LB594, proposes a hands-free law to curb distracted driving.
Student voices played a pivotal role, with teens from David City High School’s FCCLA and Grand Island Senior High sharing insights on peer driving behaviors. NDOT Highway Safety Administrator Bill Kovarik emphasized the importance of reaching young drivers where they engage most.
“Despite knowing the risks, many teens still use their phones while driving,” Kovarik said. “Conversations with young drivers are essential to shaping effective safety messages.”
Nebraska ranks 49th in seat belt usage, and in 2023, 81% of teen fatalities involved unbuckled passengers.
With the state grappling with rising motorcycle fatalities after helmet law changes, conference discussions also highlighted impaired driving prevention and public health approaches to traffic safety.
Source: Nebraska Department of Transportation, Newsbreak.com
