Blog post
Tell USDOT to get serious about roadway fatalities.
Too many people are being killed on America’s roads, and we have the opportunity to do
something about it.
In MAP-21, the current federal transportation law, Congress emphasized the need for safe
roadways, expanding the funding available for safety improvements and requiring states to
show progress in reducing fatalities and serious injuries.
But rules proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) could undermine what
Congress is trying to do. Unless we tell USDOT to do better, we’ll end up with a policy that’s
bold but toothless — a strong vision for better safety without the accountability or data to make it
happen.
You can take action today by submitting comments to USDOT.
Under USDOT’s proposed rules, states will be required to meet targets in four markers of
transportation safety, including total number of fatalities and injuries, and rates of fatalities and
injuries per miles travelled. These targets are based on historical trends—not a vision for
improved transportation safety—and may be unrelated to real targets often set by states
already. And, the rules allow states to fail to achieve as many as half of their safety goals, with a
definition of “significant progress” that could define an increase in deaths as progress.
They also won’t be required to distinguish between different roadway users. That makes for a
one-size-fits-all approach, with no room for targeted strategies to improve safety for people
walking or bicycling, for city drivers, or for travelers on rural roads. But non-motorized fatalities
represent almost 16 percent of all traffic deaths—up from 12 percent just a few years ago. And
the trend is hidden in the overall downward trend of traffic fatalities.
USDOT is accepting comments on its current draft of these rules. Between now and June 9,
citizens and organizations can propose changes to make the rules work as intended.
States should set goals for reducing injuries and fatalities, and they should be accountable for
meeting them. If we’re serious about saving lives on America’s roads, we need to follow what
Congress intended by setting real goals, demanding real progress, and doing more to protect
people walking, bicycling, and driving.
The public comment period ends on June 9, 2014. Tell USDOT to make safety a top priority and
hold states accountable for what happens on their roadways.
Email blast
SUBJECT: Tell USDOT to get serious about transportation safety
[[First_Name]]—
Too many people are being killed on America’s roads.
Congress has already acknowledged road fatalities as a major problem that needs correcting.
That’s why the most recent federal transportation bill included measures to hold state
governments accountable for preventing roadway injuries and deaths. But rules proposed by the
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) could undermine those efforts.
Tell USDOT to get serious about transportation safety: Send a letter to Secretary Foxx
today.
USDOT is currently accepting public comments on proposed changes to its transportation
safety rules.
It’s an opportunity to start holding states more accountable for driver deaths, and to enforce the
safety laws as they’re written. Both these changes would help save the lives of Americans
across the country. But USDOT needs to hear from you to make the changes happen.
Better rules can save lives: Send a letter to Secretary Foxx today
Congress has set goals for reducing injuries and fatalities, and USDOT should hold states
accountable for meeting them. If we’re going to get serious about saving lives on America’s
roads, we need accurate projections, better incentives, and stronger accountability.
The public comment period ends on June 9, 2014. Tell USDOT to make safety a top priority and
hold states accountable for what happens on their roadways.
Sincerely,
[your organization]
Twitter
Tell @USDOT to get serious about transportation fatalities and injuries: http://bit.ly/1mi4cco
Congress already made roadway safety a priority. Now it’s @USDOT’s turn. Voice your support:
http://bit.ly/1mi4cco
Help tell @USDOT to hold states accountable for roadway fatalities and injuries:
http://bit.ly/1mi4cco
USDOT is writing its rules for transportation. Speak up for safer streets and highways:
http://bit.ly/1mi4cco
Too many people are being killed on America’s roads. Tell @USDOT to get serious about
safety: http://bit.ly/1mi4cco
Facebook
The Department of Transportation is taking comments on its new safety rules. Join us in
demanding better accountability for roadway fatalities and injuries:
http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=17386
Congress has already called better roadway safety a high priority. Tell USDOT to follow their
lead and help protect drivers, pedestrians, and bystanders:
http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=17386
The U.S. Department of Transportation is writing its safety rules this month. Voice your support
for better strategies to reduce roadway injuries and fatalities:
http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=17386
Too many people are being killed on America’s roads. Tell the U.S. Department of
Transportation to get serious about safety and accountability.
http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=17386
Better transportation safety rules can save lives. Send a letter to Transportation Secretary
Anthony Foxx today.
http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=17386