Well, this isn't a social, monetary, or educational improvement, but it's improvement nonetheless. It's always good to report that fewer people are losing their lives in the state!
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/12/...s_fewer_d.html
According to the Birmingham News article, yearly traffic fatalities have dropped by at least 300 since 2006. This is the third year in a row that the state has seen a reduction in the amount of traffic fatalities.
The most notable things that have been done to make the roads safer are the overall quality of the roads, ie: the surfaces have been made much more smooth which allows for greater control over the vehicle and actually as an effect on the efficiency of your car. Also, the "great wall of wire" that I'm sure a lot of us know about in Cullman County has greatly reduced the number of crossover deaths along I-65.
Also, when resurfacing occurs, 2 feet of roadway is added to each lane, something that has been most obvious on the interstates. Can't forget the re striping that the state has also done. Apparently, it helps to actually know where your lane is.
Also, new alliances have been formed between ALDOT, the Department of Public Safety, and the Alabama Trucking Association. Another obvious ones are the blitzes that troopers do on various holidays and during peak travel times.
The Trucking Association has been helping by using truckers to spot drivers who are driving unsafely around 18 wheelers.
The Department of Public Safety also placed 300 troopers on the highways for 24 hours during traffic blitzes.
Also used were cars called "batmobiles" which enable officers to test blood alcohol levels in the field. This has allowed for an increase of 900 DUI arrest this year.
For the past three years in trooper investigated wrecks:
2006: 805
2007: 784
2008: 620
2009: 518