The Reference Committee recommends amending this by striking the first resolve  and adopting this as new ArMA Policy. ArMA has current policy addressing mandatory helmet laws and restrictions on hand-held devices while driving. 

Does the resolution address a current need? Yes, motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of preventable injury and death in Arizona, despite gains in traffic safety.

Is it directly applicable to the healthcare community?  Yes, physicians routinely care for crash victims and are well- positioned to advocate for prevention through education, public health initiatives, and policy development.

Does it reflect emerging healthcare trends?  Yes, public health and medical organizations increasingly emphasize upstream injury‑prevention policies, including occupant restraints, helmet use, and distracted-driving laws.

Is it within ArMA's or the AMA's scope to accomplish? Yes, ArMA can support evidence‑based traffic safety measures and expand existing policy on handheld devices while driving.

Whereas, motor vehicle crashes continue to cause substantial preventable injury and death in Arizona and remain a significant public health concern, even as recent years show modest declines in traffic fatalities, and

Whereas, evidence‑ based interventions, including occupant‑restraint laws, motorcycle helmet requirements, and distracted‑driving restrictions, are associated with reduced crash‑ related morbidity and mortality, and

Whereas, the Arizona Medical Association already encourages physicians to educate patients about the public health risks of text messaging and other uses of handheld devices while driving, and

Whereas, the Arizona Medical Association currently lacks broader policy addressing comprehensive motor vehicle injury prevention, and additional policy guidance would support physician advocacy and public health efforts while remaining consistent with existing policy, therefore, be it

Resolved, that the Arizona Medical Association support evidence‑based traffic safety measures in Arizona, including enforcement of occupant‑restraint laws, restrictions on handheld device use while driving, and motorcycle helmet requirements, and be it further

Resolved, that ArMA encourage physicians to educate patients and the public about motor vehicle injury prevention, including seat‑belt use, avoidance of distracted driving, and motorcycle safety, consistent with existing Arizona Medical Association policy, and be it further

Resolved, that ArMA collaborate with public health agencies, policymakers, and community organizations to educate the public and promote evidence-based motor vehicle injury-prevention strategies.

Budget impact to ArMA. Low

Resources:

1. City of Phoenix. (2022). Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan (p. 94 of 210). https://www.phoenix.gov/...
2. Piontkowski SR, Peabody JS, Reede C, Velasco Soltero J, Tsatoke G Jr, Shelhamer T, Hicks KR. Reducing motor vehicle-related injuries at an Arizona Indian Reservation: Ten years of application of evidence-based strategies. Glob Health Sci Pract. 2015 Dec 17;3(4):619-29. doi:10.9745/GHSP-D-15-00249. PMID: 26681708; PMCID: PMC4682586.
3. Voinea GD, Boboc RG, Buzdugan ID, Antonya C, Yannis G. Texting while driving: A literature review on driving simulator studies. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 28;20(5):4354. doi:10.3390/ijerph20054354. PMID: 36901364; PMCID: PMC10001711.
4. Ferdinand AO, Menachemi N, Sen B, Blackburn JL, Morrissey M, Nelson L. Impact of texting laws on motor vehicular fatalities in the United States. Am J Public Health. 2014 Aug;104(8):1370-7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2014.301894. Epub 2014 Jun 12. PMID: 24922151; PMCID: PMC4103220.
5. Arizona Department of Transportation, Multimodal Planning Division. (2025). 2024 motor vehicle crash facts for the State of Arizona (p. 9 of 68). Arizona Department of Transportation. https://azdot.gov/...