Category: Safety Topics

  • October 2nd, 2017

This document reports the results of a study to determine, on average over a large number of cases, which driver is more apt to be at fault in two-vehicle crashes that involve two different vehicle types. This information is essential to effective countermeasure development with regard to changing driver behavior since ignoring who it typically […]

  • October 2nd, 2017

Traffic Safety Facts: In 2015, the United States experienced 35,092 fatalities and 2.44 million injuries as a result of motor vehicle crashes, a 7.2-percent increase from 2014 (National Center for Statistics and Analysis [NCSA], 2016). This is the largest percentage increase in nearly 50 years. In 2015, motor vehicle crashes accounted for nearly onequarter (24.7%) […]

  • October 2nd, 2017

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety: Study recommends the following laws should be adopted in Alabama (page 41): Highway Safety Laws Needed in Alabama: Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Rear) Rear Facing Through Age 2 Law Booster Seat Law GDL – Minimum Age 16 for Learner’s Permit GDL – Stronger Supervised Driving Requirement GDL – Stronger […]

  • September 20th, 2017

Pedestrians and bicyclists are a powerful indicator of the social and economic health and safety of a community. A high level of pedestrian and bicycle activity in a community is often associated with more robust economies and healthier, more socially-cohesive populations, while a lack of pedestrian and bicycle activity on roadways can be an indicator […]

  • September 15th, 2017

Industry and labor officials told the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee that fast-developing automated vehicle technologies in heavy trucks and buses can make highways much safer and freight shipping more efficient, but could create major safety gaps if not closely coordinated with communications systems emerging for passenger cars. The hearing comes at a time that […]

  • September 15th, 2017

Since the Department of Transportation was established in 1966, there have been more than 2.2 million motor vehicle-related fatalities in the United States. In addition, after decades of decline, motor vehicle fatalities spiked by more than 7.2 percent in 2015, the largest single-year increase since 1966. The major factor in 94 percent of all fatal […]

  • September 15th, 2017

The U.S. Department of Transportation and its National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued new voluntary guidance about developing vehicles using automated driving systems, in what was widely reported to be a more industry-friendly version than guidance last year by the Obama administration. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said the latest guidance, dubbed 2.0, “supports further development of this […]

  • September 14th, 2017

Many of America’s leading companies are exploring one of the most exciting innovations in recent transportation history—automated driving systems (ADS)—commonly referred to as automated or self-driving vehicles. At DOT, we’re excited about the possibility of automated vehicles delivering a future that is safer, freer, and more efficient. That’s why, this week, we released Automated Driving Systems: […]