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This report examines challenges States face improving traffic safety information systems. The foundation for the report is the State Traffic Records Assessment Program data from 2018 to 2022 and technical assistance requests States have made to NHTSA since 2015. Of the six traffic records systems (crash, driver, vehicle, roadway, citation and adjudication, and injury surveillance), […]
In 2021 there were 7,489 people 65 and older killed in traffic crashes in the United States, accounting for 17 percent of all traffic fatalities. From 2020 to 2021 there was a 14-percent increase in the number of people 65 and older killed in traffic crashes. View the full findings here.
When approaching a lane reduction, drivers typically attempt to merge into the appropriate lane as soon as possible, even in congested conditions. Aggressive driving can occur when drivers merge at the last minute because they are potentially perceived to be “cutting the line.” This perception could stem from traditional traffic control device messaging suggesting that […]
The term young driver refers to a person 15 to 20 years old operating a motor vehicle. People in this age group generally obtain their licenses for the first time and many are under graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs as they learn driving skills. Read the full study here.
In 2022 seat belt use in the United States ranged from 67 percent in the U.S. Virgin Islands to 96.5 percent in Oregon. Twenty-six States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands achieved seat belt use rates of 90 percent or higher. These results are from probability-based observational surveys conducted […]
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a proposed rule which requires automobile manufacturers to equip vehicles with seat belt use warning systems for the right front passenger and rear seats to increase seat belt use. The new requirements would apply to passenger cars, trucks, most buses, and multipurpose passenger vehicles with […]
On average, over 700 fatalities occur in work zones each year. Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) and passenger vehicle drivers both need to be particularly careful while traveling through work zones. Trucks and buses have limited maneuverability and large blind spots, both of which make operating in these areas more challenging for them. In fact, large […]
Road safety is everyone’s responsibility – passenger vehicle drivers, truck drivers, bus drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) developed Our Roads, Our SafetyⓇ, a national safety campaign to encourage road users to share the road safely with large trucks and buses. Nearly every possession we own and almost all the food […]
This study reviewed ground ambulance crashes that occurred from 2012 to 2018 in the United States. The study queried several national crash databases and reviewed NHTSA’s Special Crash Investigation reports for ambulance-involved crashes. The objective of the study was to review ambulance crashes that occurred from 2012 to 2018 to identify factors contributing to ambulance-involved […]
This 12-month demonstration project was focused on increasing seat belt use in rural areas. The project relied on a multifaceted approach consisting of sustained publicity and police enforcement. A technical assistance guide was used to motivate and assist law enforcement agencies/officers to engage with rural community members on the usefulness of wearing seat belts. The […]