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With National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month wrapping up at the end of July, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reminding drivers to protect themselves year-round from this growing and costly problem, as vehicle theft can happen to anyone at any time. Each year, vehicle theft costs Americans more than $8 […]
GHSA’s annual Spotlight on Highway Safety report offers the first look at state and national trends in pedestrian traffic deaths for 2023 based on preliminary data provided by State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs). The data analysis found that 29 states had fewer pedestrian deaths in 2023 compared to the year before, while 21 and Washington, […]
Traffic management systems (TMSs) and Transportation Management Centers are critical resources that offer agencies the potential to improve the safety and mobility of travel on the surface transportation system. TMSs also assist agencies fulfilling the ever-increasing transportation needs of travelers (e.g., travel times), service providers (e.g., transit, emergency services), other agencies, and the public (e.g., […]
Speeding is part of our cultural identity. Automakers frequently advertise new cars tearing through empty cities or weaving through traffic well above safe speeds. Movies and television shows frequently push these boundaries further. And social media further glorifies lawbreaking by providing a platform for speedsters. It all perpetuates the idea that speeding is not only […]
Drivers are considered to be alcohol-impaired when their blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) are .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. Thus, any fatal traffic crash involving a driver with a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher is considered to be an alcohol-impaired-driving crash, and fatalities occurring in those crashes are considered to be alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities. […]
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, AL-07, announced $14,749,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to reduce blocked railroad crossings, enhance transportation networks, and create more walkable, bikeable, safe, connected, and livable communities in Alabama’s 7th Congressional District. Funding comes from USDOT’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program. The City of York […]
In 2014 NHTSA specified an area behind the vehicle that must be displayed to the driver while backing, which applied to new passenger vehicles beginning with model year 2018. Most manufacturers responded by adding rearview video systems (RVSs) to their vehicles. Research has shown that using RVSs can reduce crash risk (Hurwitz et al., 2010); […]
Relative to passenger cars, two- and three-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles, mopeds, and seated motor scooters (50cc or less) are associated with a higher risk for fatalities and serious injuries in the event of a traffic crash, as they do not offer the protection of an enclosed vehicle or include other safety enhancement features such […]
This fact sheet contains information on fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes based on data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and non-fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes from the Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS). Results from FARS, such as fatal crashes and fatalities, are actual counts, while results from CRSS, such as non-fatal crashes and […]
All states and the District of Columbia have “Move Over” laws—which require drivers to change lanes, slow down, or both, when approaching certain vehicles stopped on the roadside with flashing warning lights. States often use road signs and social media to inform the public of these laws. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration supports states’ […]