The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released an update on its National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS), which was initially released in January, and shared an online dashboard that allows stakeholders and the general public to track DOT’s progress on commitments made as part of the NRSS. This update comes as U.S. traffic fatalities are at a 16-year high.

While the number of annual roadway fatalities declined for many years, progress plateaued over the last decade, and fatalities have risen during the pandemic. The NRSS provides steps that DOT is taking to address this crisis systemically and prevent these tragic and avoidable deaths and serious injuries. 

Since the NRSS was released in early 2022, safety accomplishments have been made on national and local levels, including:

• DOT adopted a Safe Systems Approach, which provides a framework to proactively create a safer transportation system and lower risks for people by building multiple layers of protection through safer roads, safer people, safer vehicles, safer speeds, and better post-crash care. 
• The Federal Highway Administration submitted a Complete Streets report to Congress, and encourages States and communities to adopt and implement Complete Streets policies that prioritize the safety of all users in transportation network planning, design, construction and operations.    
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has enhanced safety monitoring of new technologies in motor vehicles through a Standing General Order on crash reporting.
• NHTSA has also issued a request for comment on the 5 Star Safety Rating Program (NCAP), proposing to add four more technologies to the ratings including: blind spot detection, blind spot intervention, lane keeping support, and pedestrian automatic emergency braking.

Learn more about the National Roadway Safety Strategy here.