Regulators and advocacy groups have attached so many strings to highway safety incentive grants that few states have qualified for millions in federal dollars.
As a result, the money intended to help save lives through graduated licensing, ignition interlocks and distracted driving prevention has been diverted to other transportation programs since the grants became available in 2012.
Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), says the incentive grants were well-intentioned, but aren't helping change laws.
"Incentives should encourage states to reach for the next level in improving their highway safety laws, not be so unreasonable that qualification is impossible," Adkins says. "As written now, the incentives have had little to no impact at improving highway safety."
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