Public Health and the Law - Assignment Example

Public Health and the Law: Road Safety Road safety is one of the areas that need concerted efforts of both the federal and local authority. Since 1930s, government agencies have inexorably enacted sets of laws to ensure safety concerning road use. The laws cover licensing of vehicles and drivers, inspection and certification of road worthiness of vehicles, insurance coverage, the procedure to be followed in case of an accident, among others (Evans, 1991).The Federal and local States prohibit driving when under the influence of alcohol or any other drug that may influence the driver’s level of concentration.

Any person who tests positive to alcoholic or drug influence or intoxication and driving at the same time, such a person is incapable of driving safely is guilty of an offence which is liable for a sentence as well as a fine. Such offences may be converted to serious criminal charges that may attract long sentences such as life imprisonment.Furthermore, the laws also concern observance and respect for traffic signs. This includes traffic signs concerning turning, stopping, starting, changing of lanes, speed limits, among others.

The federal and local states ensure that there are requisite gadgets to ensure that there is surveillance to enable law enforcers to effectively monitor road use. In Illinois, for example, the court may order suspension of driver’s license in the event the user does not follow traffic signs.Federal and local states furthermore ensure that all vehicles in use are adequately insured. This will ensure that passengers and other road users are protected. Furthermore, the insurance also covers maintenance of vehicles in case of damage.

Besides, the rules cover the speed limits allowable in given areas, and the use of safety belts. Finally, the laws too cover the action or procedure to be followed in the event of an accident. For example, from 1st January 2013, the Illinois laws allow victims of an accident to remove vehicles from the main way if the accident did not result to an injury. This serves to reduce further accidents that may result from road blockage (Olson & Dewar, 2002). Road safety rules are administrative laws.

This is because they involve formulation, enforcement and regulation. Furthermore, there is an agency or agencies, at local or federal levels that ensure that the laws are adhered to. In addition traffic laws are a branch of public laws whose concern is to ensure public road safety.These laws are closely related to public health services since they concern the wellbeing of the whole public while on the road. They are non discriminatory as they seek to protect all members of the public. Such laws are enacted and stipulate clearly the steps to be followed in the event a certain threat occurs.

Furthermore, members of the public are educated on their goodness as well as the repercussions in the event they are not adhered to (Loewen & Dann, 1996).Both the federal and local States should be involved in enactment and enforcement of traffic laws. The Federal government plays a crucial role in ensuring road safety and other aspects of public health across various States. This, to a certain extent, is because Federal laws cut across states and can be pursued from any court of law in the United States of America.

More so, since some drivers have not keen on following enacted laws, there is need for a governmental agency to closely watch and control the behavior of road users (Olson & Dewar, 2002). ReferencesEvans, L. (1991). Traffic Safety and the Driver .New York: Science and Technology.Loewen, N. & Dann, P. (1996). Traffic Safety. New Jersey: Child’s World.Olson, P. L & Dewar, E. R. (2002). Human Factors in Traffic. California: Lawyers & Judges Pub.