Security & Safety Briefs — March 1 - March 7

This briefing can be e-mailed to you every week. Just click here to register.The Latest Headlines:

• Arkansas Seat Belt Law Gains Support
• Train Accidents Decline for Second Year, DOT Says

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Arkansas Seat Belt Law Gains Support

A bill introduced in the Arkansas state Senate that would make failure to use a seat belt a primary offense has gained the support of state Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, the Associated Press reported. If the bill passes and Gov. Mike Beebe (D) signs it, Arkansas would qualify for a one-time federal funding injection of $9.5 million for highway safety construction, AP said.The proposed legislation, introduced by Sen. Hank Wilkins (D) would give state police the authority to pull over a driver solely for a seat belt violation, AP reported.Currently, police can cite offenders for not wearing a seat belt only if their vehicles were pulled over for some other reason. Transport Topics

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Train Accidents Decline for Second Year, DOT Says

The number of train accidents declined for the second year in a row and there were fewer highway-rail grade crossing collisions, according to preliminary 2006 rail-safety data announced Wednesday by Transportation Secretary Mary Peters.Peters said 36 states experienced fewer train accidents in 2006, compared with 2005.The preliminary statistics released by the Federal Railroad Administration showed that railroads had 402 fewer train accidents nationwide last year, a 12.4% decline from 2005.Train accidents caused by human error — the leading cause of all train accidents — fell by 20.2%, DOT said. Transport TopicsPrevious Security & Safety Briefs