During the recent Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) meeting held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the three people who represented American Samoa were able to hear  updates on what’s in store for the local highway safety program, as approved by Congress for the National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA) — which is OHS's funding source.

The local delegation included DPS Commissioner William Haleck, program coordinator for the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) Fred Scanlan, and Emelio Fruean, the OHS Program Manager for Speed Countermeasures, Pedestrian Safety, and Police Traffic Safety Programs.

According to a report from Scanlan, a new incentive grant is in the works for Pedestrian Safety, as the number of fatalities has increased.

“This will be a collaborated effort between the National Highway Safety (DPS-OHS) and the Federal Highway Administration to cover both behavior and safe routes to and from schools and within the community,” Scanlan explained. “This incentive grant is scheduled to be released for application in the near future and it has already been approved by Congress.”

As for “Drugged and Impaired Driving,” Scanlan said cases in this area have increased rapidly, as some states have passed the legalization of marijuana (recreational) and therefore, concerns have been raised in DC with regards to finding solutions to reduce this.

While all states have drunk driving laws, only some have enacted laws to address drug impairment. Right now, 19 states have strict laws that forbid any presence of a prohibited substance or drug in the driver's body while in control of a vehicle, without any other evidence of impairment.

Three states — California, New York, and Hawai’i — separate driving under the influence of alcohol, under the influence of a drug, and under the combined influence of alcohol and a drug as part of their impaired driving statute.

All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands have Drug Evaluation & Classification Programs (DEC) that train law enforcement officers to become certified Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) so they can successfully identify drug impaired drivers and accurately determine the category of drugs causing such impairment.

"This training enables officers to better present evidence of drug impairment in court," Scanlan explained.

He added that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has given American Samoa's Office of Highway Safety the 'green light' to "revise our plan to implement measures in tackling this problem."

Scanlan explained that the Dept. of Public Safety's Traffic Division (sub-grantee) has worked with OHS in developing a plan to get the ball rolling.

The first thing is to train, certify, and re-certify officers to administer the Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFTST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and become Drug Recognition Experts (DRE).

According to Scanlan, priority goes to traffic and motor carrier officers. He said thirty slots are open and training for local cops will be carried out by a visiting California Highway Patrol Consultant in December.

As far as equipment, Scanlan said there are hundreds of drug detecting devices currently on the market for DPS Traffic Division Commander Lt. Siaosi Aiono to choose from, as long as they are on NHTSA's approved equipment list. 

Regarding legislation, Scanlan said Lt. Aiono has reviewed and will seek legal guidance on the current statute concerning impaired driving, to determine if an amendment is needed or if the current language is sufficient.

The GHSA, a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of US States and territories, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy, enhance program management, and promote best practices. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds, as well as implement state highway safety plans.