DOT Roadway Safety Plan

About this Document

During the first decade of the 21st century, over 400,000 people died on America’s roadways, while millions suffered life-altering injuries. Such incidents have had a profound impact, not only on those injured, but also on their families and communities. The Nation must significantly reduce roadway crashes, deaths, injuries, and the terrible social and economic costs that are consequently borne by the American public.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) developed the Roadway Safety Plan based on the premise that significantly reducing roadway fatalities will require fresh ideas, stronger partnerships, and tremendous resolve. DOT will continue to build upon past successes, lessons learned, and current and future trends.

An Integrated Focus

Senior DOT leaders initiated this Roadway Safety Plan to bring an integrated focus to roadway safety issues. A Roadway Safety Plan Working Group (Working Group) was assembled that includes a cross section of representatives from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), supported by the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST). Each member was identified for his or her subject matter expertise.

The Roadway Safety Plan leverages multiple strategic and operational plans that have been developed over the years to address roadway safety issues, both within DOT and by external stakeholder groups. The Working Group expanded these existing plans, examining new opportunities for and methods of innovation, integration, and collaboration. Ultimately, the Roadway Safety Plan seeks to align with the safety focus of the strategic, legislative, budgetary, and performance planning processes that will be needed to advance its ideas.