Arizona was rated one of the most dangerous states in the nation for drivers and passengers due to its relative lack of highway safety laws, according to a national report card released Tuesday.

Gov. Doug Ducey insisted Friday that public safety will not be compromised by his decision to allow Uber to test its self-driving vehicles on Arizona roads even before the state has adopted rules for their use.

On Tuesday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee heard a proposed bill that would improve the safety of roadways by strengthening Arizona’s Graduated Driver License Law (GDL).

State lawmakers are moving to effectively stand state regulation of businesses on their head, requiring government agencies to prove their rules and restrictions are necessary.

Earlier this legislative session, many state lawmakers grilled Charles Flanagan – who was then director of the Department of Child Safety – about why reports of child neglect are still going up. They pointed fingers, made speeches and issued statements about how important it is to protect child safety and reduce child abuse and neglect.

State lawmakers want to give winners of the Arizona Lottery what one calls a “running start” to protecting their privacy and security before their names become public.

Palo Verde is one place where no one can afford to make mistakes. “Put these on,” the security officer, whose bullet magazines protruded and glistened against his black uniform, told me.

Arizona transportation officials are getting the message out about dust storm safety a�� in precisely 17 syllables. The Arizona Department of Transportation is encouraging Twitter users to tweet haikus around the theme safe driving in haboobs a�� severe dust storms that hit Phoenix in the summer.

BUCKEYE – A year after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, operators of Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station said Friday that events in Japan prompted new initiatives to prepare for emergencies. “We’re adamant that we’re going to take a safe industry and make it even safer by applying those lessons learned,” said Randy Edington, executive vice president and chief nuclear officer of Arizona Public Service.

A bipartisan pair of state representatives hope to do what others have tried and failed to do for nearly 20 years: expand a ban on unrestrained minors in the backs of trucks.