MoDOT has set its goals for the 2006 legislative session, including proposals that would improve safety for motorists and road workers.

• The department will once again support passage of a primary safety belt law. Missouri currently has only secondary enforcement, which means that motorists can be ticketed for failing to buckle up only if they’re already pulled over for another offense. Missouri is currently below the national average in seat belt use – 76 percent of motorists buckle up. Federal statistics show that moving to primary enforcement would increase usage by 11 percent, saving 90 lives and preventing more than 1,000 injuries per year.

• MoDOT will also pursue legislation increasing penalties for repeat traffic offenders in highway work zones. The proposal would create the offenses of “endangerment of a highway worker” and “aggravated endangerment of a highway worker,” which would include increased fines and suspended or revoked licenses. In 2004, 28 motorists were killed and 1,167 people were injured in work zone crashes. Two MoDOT employees were killed and 69 were injured.

• Other legislation would allow MoDOT to issue bonds to fund multimodal improvements, using proceeds from sales taxes on construction materials purchased for department projects.

• The department will also pursue legislation to refuse, suspend or revoke the registration of motor carriers who are prohibited from interstate travel by federal law.