44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

REQUESTING THE STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO COOPERATE IN AN EXAMINATION OF THE STATE'S TRAFFIC SAFETY GOALS AND ITS USE OF RESOURCES TO MEET THOSE GOALS.

WHEREAS, the legislature recognizes that reducing New Mexico's high levels of motor vehicle crash deaths and injuries is a high priority for citizens and must be a priority for all branches of their government; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico has always confronted its history of high levels of motor vehicle crash deaths and injuries with an extraordinary record of achievement at reducing those levels, using strong goals and best available laws, leadership and programs; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico's successes in the past, present and future at traffic safety progress depend on close collaboration with our national leaders and partners in the traffic safety movement; and

WHEREAS, national traffic safety leadership in the partners in progress coalition, including the United States department of transportation, mothers against drunk driving, the highway safety representatives of the national governor's association and the national commission against drunk driving, have set forth a goal of reducing national alcohol-related crash deaths from fifteen thousand nine hundred thirty-six in 1998 to eleven thousand by 2005, a thirty-one percent decline, and have identified steps to be taken to achieve that goal; and

WHEREAS, the United States department of transportation and its partners have set forth a goal of reducing national crash deaths from forty-one thousand four hundred eighty in 1998 to thirty-five thousand six hundred by 2005, a fourteen percent decline, and have identified steps to be taken to achieve that goal; and

WHEREAS, the state highway and transportation department's highway safety and performance plan 2000-2005 and its compass goals set forth the executive's goals for the state's traffic safety programs for 2000-2005 and the planned use of federal and state traffic safety resources to meet those goals; and

WHEREAS, the state highway and transportation department's plan calls for a reduction in alcohol-related crash deaths from one hundred eighty-eight in 1998 to one hundred sixty-one in 2005, a fourteen percent decline that is less than one-half the planned national thirty-one percent reduction, costing one hundred seven lives from diminished progress in our state relative to the nation; and

WHEREAS, the state highway and transportation department's plan calls for a reduction in alcohol-related crash deaths from four hundred twenty-four in 1998 to four hundred three in 2005, a five percent reduction that is nearly one-third the planned national fourteen percent decline, costing one hundred sixty-one lives from diminished progress in our state relative to the nation; and

WHEREAS, the state highway and transportation department's plan for below-average progress at saving New Mexican lives compared to planned average progress in other states would cause New Mexico to move from fourth-highest in per capita alcohol-related crash deaths in 1998 to second by 2005 and to move from seventh-highest in per capita total crash deaths in 1998 to third in 2005; and

WHEREAS, the weak goals in the plan are at odds with the history of achievement in traffic safety over many years when New Mexico's progress has surpassed that of the nation at large, and it is crucial that the state continue that strong record since our death rates still remain far above national levels despite narrowing the gap; and

WHEREAS, the state highway and transportation department indicates that their weak goals represent the best that can be expected from their current programs; and

WHEREAS, the state highway and transportation department leaves unexpended each year substantial resources that could instead be invested in vigorous, creative, effective programs to achieve progress equaling or exceeding the national average progress planned for other states; and

WHEREAS, the legislature's performance-based budgeting depends for its success on having very ambitious goals met with excellent programs and that process is compromised by reference to the state highway and transportation department's weak safety goals; and

WHEREAS, the legislature wants to maximize the effective use of money appropriated for services for traffic safety and to ensure that funds are expended effectively for the specific purposes for which they are appropriated;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state department of highway and transportation and its transportation programs division cooperate with the legislative finance committee in examining traffic safety expenditures and programs to verify that all funds available are being expended properly and for vigorous and effective programs that pursue strong traffic safety goals; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the cooperative effort determine whether traffic safety resources and authorities are being used with maximum effectiveness to achieve the goals of the legislature's traffic safety initiatives, including all aspects of driver training and motorcycle training; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this examination of the programs and the expenditure of funds include verification that all services provided are procured in accordance with law and applicable state and federal rules of operation for the funds involved; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state highway and transportation department be requested to convene a process, closely involving all the state traffic safety leaders listed in the plan as contributors to its development, to develop ambitious goals consistent with national goals, set through consensus rather than unilaterally by the department, and to identify programs to meet those more ambitious goals; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state highway and transportation department request the assistance of the national highway traffic safety administration to facilitate that consensus process in a climate of cooperation and conflict resolution; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislature request that the national highway traffic safety administration analyze New Mexico goals and programs and suggest modifications to ensure goals meet or exceed average planned national progress and identity opportunities for program improvements to achieve goals and submit its analysis to the state highway and transportation department and to the interim legislative health and human services committee to support that process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state highway and transportation department amend its highway safety and performance plan 2000-2005 and its compass goals to incorporate the traffic safety goals that result from this consensus process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative finance committee and the state department of highway and transportation report their findings on the use of traffic safety funds and opportunities to improve goals to the interim legislative health and human services committee by October 1, 2000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state highway and transportation department report on the ambitious goals and program changes that emerge from the consensus process to the interim legislative health and human services committee by October 1, 2000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be sent to the secretary of highway and transportation, the director of the transportation programs division, the regional administrator of the national highway traffic safety administration, the director of the legislative finance committee and the interim legislative health and human services committee.