Safety

Overview

Safety is the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) highest priority. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy (Policy Office) coordinates with the Department’s modal administrations and other Federal agencies that share responsibility for oversight of transportation-related safety activities. The Policy Office provides technical expertise on safety policy matters for the Department’s legislative, regulatory, and programmatic activities to the administration and DOT leadership. 

The Policy Office serves as the Departmental focal point for initiatives related to our safety mission for all aspects of transportation, and carries out a number of activities to coordinate and execute DOT’s safety initiatives, including:   

• Reviews and analyzes the safety implications of domestic transportation policy to provide a basis for advising DOT leadership actions and decisions; 
• Conducts analyses and recommends policies for reducing transportation fatality and injury rates; 
• Develops, coordinates, and evaluates public policy on transportation safety issues; 
• Develops and reviews transportation legislation and regulations, and coordinates national transportation policy initiatives relating to safety matters; 
• Monitors compliance procedures for handling the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations by DOT’s Operating Administrations, and manages DOT’s response to the NTSB Most Wanted List;  
• Engages with stakeholders on issues impacting a wide range of safety issues; and
• Looks for opportunities to advance the Department’s safety mission. 

The Policy Office coordinates with the Operating Administrations (FAA, FHWA, FMCSA, FRA, FTA, MARAD, NHTSA, and PHMSA) on the safety activities that further the Department’s goal to reduce the number of individuals injured and killed as a result of transportation. The following are areas where the Policy Office works with the rest of the Department to efficiently and effectively perform our safety mission. 

1. Human Behavior. Human error, fatigue, driver health, and risky human behaviors such as distracted and impaired driving continue to be a safety challenge in every form of transportation. The Department continues to identify and employ effective interventions that mitigate the effects of human error on safety as part of DOT's adoption of a Safe System Approach.
2. Emerging and Automated Technologies. New technologies hold tremendous promise to save lives. The Department is focused on encouraging the development of safety technologies across all modes that will mitigate and minimize human mistakes during transportation. We are working to safely incorporate automated technologies into the transportation system.
3. Data. The Department is becoming more data-driven, and safety data can help identify safety risks as well as guide policy and evidence-based decision-making. Data helps the Department make better policy choices related to safety, and can help direct resources to safety opportunities that are most beneficial.
4. Federal Relationships with State, Regional, and Local Government. The Department relies on State, regional, and local partners to help ensure transportation safety, and intergovernmental relationships allow us to further extend the Department’s ability to influence safety activities. This includes collaborative partnerships, technical assistance, guidance, standards, and oversight.
5. Regulations and Enforcement. Safety regulations developed under USDOT’s statutory authorities allow the Operating Administrations to have a powerful impact on safety. As performance-based standards become more common, the Department will begin to rely more heavily on safety management systems to address transportation safety risk.
6. Communications with the Public and Stakeholders. The relationships that the Department builds with stakeholders, the regulated community, and the public affect how well our programs work, and are another avenue to influence safety via outreach and education.

Below are links to our safety partners' websites within DOT, as well as links to key safety offices across the Executive branch. 

DOT Safety Website Links

• Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Aviation Safety
• Federal Highway Administration, Office of Safety
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
• Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Railroad Safety
• Federal Transit Administration, Office of Transit Safety & Oversight
• Maritime Administration, Office of Safety
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety
• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety

Federal Agency Safety Website Links

• U.S. Coast Guard (in the Department of Homeland Security)
• Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (in the Department of the Interior)
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Office of Safety and Mission Assurance

Reports and Activities of Interest

• FY 2022-2026 U.S. DOT Strategic Plan
• U.S. DOT RD&T Strategic Plan FY 2022-2026  
• National Roadway Safety Strategy
• DOT Regulatory Information
• 2024 Battery Safety Post-Incident Stakeholder Meeting
• Leading Practices Toolkit Concerning Government-Issued Identification for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals