The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Federal Highway Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and National Safety Council recently announced a joint effort to end car crash fatalities on America’s roadways within the next 30 years.
Dubbed the Road to Zero Coalition, the initiative was prompted by news that 2015 marked the largest increase in traffic deaths since 1966. Unfortunately, preliminary estimates for the first half of 2016 show a second alarming uptick in fatalities. Statistics thus far show an increase of about 10.4 percent as compared to the number of fatalities in the first half of 2015.
“Every single death on our roadways is a tragedy,” said NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind. “We can prevent them. Our drive toward zero deaths is more than just a worthy goal. It is the only acceptable goal.”
The Road to Zero Coalition initially will focus on promoting proven lifesaving strategies such as improving seat belt use, installing rumble strips, behavior change campaigns and data-driven enforcement. Continued efforts will involve working with developers of self-driving vehicles, focusing on overall system design, addressing infrastructure design, vehicle technology, enforcement, and behavior safety. To help accelerate efforts, the DOT has committed $1 million a year for the next three years to provide grants to various organizations already working on potentially lifesaving programs.
“The ‘4Es’ – Education, Engineering, Enforcement and Emergency Medical Services – provide a reliable roadmap for driving down fatalities,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “Coupled with new technologies and innovative approaches to mobility, we may now hold the keys that get us to zero.”
We here at Harrell & Harrell support initiatives that effectively make America’s roadways safe. If you or someone you love suffers an injury or loss in an auto accident caused by someone else’s negligence, get medical treatment and call 800-251-1111 to speak with an auto accident attorney with Jacksonville’s Harrell & Harrell.