An official website of the United States government.
Here's how you know
The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites always use a .gov or .mil domain. Before sharing sensitive information online, make sure you’re on a .gov or .mil site by inspecting your browser's address (or "location") bar.
This site is also protected by an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate that's been signed by the U.S. government. The https:// means all transmitted data is encrypted — in other words, any information or browsing history that you provide is transmitted securely.
Read the latest news and announcements from traffic safety interest groups and about traffic safety topics here.
The crash performance of roadside safety hardware, such as guardrails, is typically evaluated using full-scale crash tests with vehicles striking the device in representative worst-case impact scenarios. Each test is evaluated based on vehicle response, device response, and potential for injury to vehicle occupants. Read the full report here.
In 2023, the Technologist in Communities (TIC) program hosted its inaugural scanning tour across the American Southwest, with a goal of investigating the region’s leading public mobility systems and their integration with on-demand public mobility services. The scanning tour concept was inspired by and named after a U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration practice […]
New and sophisticated vehicle technology is beginning to change the nature of driving, assuming tasks that were previously part of the driver’s responsibility. Past research has documented critical gaps in drivers’ understanding of these technologies and related safety implications. However, less is known about how understanding of new technology varies across the driving population. Moreover, […]
In 2022, North America was on the move again. People were commuting more, going back to in-person school, restaurants, and places of worship, and traveling again. As daily life and transportation has evolved, so has Lyft’s impact on drivers, riders, and communities across the continent. We talked to these riders and drivers, asking them to […]
Communities across the nation are turning to the Safe System approach to design transportation systems as a way to eventually reduce crash deaths and injuries to zero—the goal of Vision Zero programs. The Safe System approach uses thoughtful road and vehicle design to minimize the chance of a crash when people make mistakes and, when […]
Communication campaigns are among the most widely used efforts to promote traffic safety and can be used to promote safe driving practices and knowledge of traffic laws, and otherwise educate the public. One way campaigns could be improved is to use behavior change theory in campaign development. Behavior change theories are developed to explain and […]
Recent reviews by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety noted that technology-based countermeasures such as cellphone blocking apps offer a promising approach to reducing distracted driving. However, acceptance and use of such apps remain low, especially among driving populations most prone to distraction. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is working with researchers at the […]
Many older adults rely on driving a motor vehicle to maintain independence and engage with their environments. However, driving safely can become a concern due to age-related changes in physical, cognitive, and sensory function. To extend the number of years that older adults can drive safely, some self-regulate their driving. Self-regulation refers to modifying driving […]
Federal aid to disaster-damaged highways and bridges has been available since the 1930s. The U.S. Department of Transportation provides federal assistance for disaster-damaged federal-aid highways through the Emergency Relief (ER) Program administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The program is funded by a permanent annual authorization of $100 million from the Highway Trust Fund […]
With new advanced vehicle technology, drivers can allow automation to take on parts of the driving task. However, when circumstances dictate, drivers must be able to take back control of the vehicle safely and efficiently. Examining ways of supporting these control transitions is imperative and can help to realize the intended safety benefits of vehicle […]