A New Federal Plan To Reduce Roadway Deaths Has a Few Controversial Ideas
The Department of Transportation’s new policy, known as the National Roadway Safety Strategy, aims to reduce fatalities. But not every proposal has unanimous support.
initiatives outlined are part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
While many safety advocates are in favor of the new approach, some have voiced concerns over certain crucial aspects.
The proposed National Roadway Safety Strategy
The DOT will be focusing on window stickers that include information on advanced driver assistance programs, as well as updating federal safety ratings. These will factor in active safety systems, increased crash protection for occupants and pedestrians.
Passenger vehicles will require technology to detect pedestrians, impaired driving and automatic emergency braking. Road safety will also go beyond enforcing speed limits, as municipalities are encouraged to redesign roadways to accommodate slower travel.
In an effort to reduce “underride” crashes where passenger vehicles are pinned beneath tractor trailers, the DOT will be upgrading requirements for rear-impact guards on these large trucks. Perhaps the most controversial of the proposed measures, is their plan to work with states individually on automated safety enforcement programs. These would include speed cameras.
seems very supportive of the new NRSS, as it’s long been a proponent of many of the measures outlined. It has been advocating for systems with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking for years now. It awards additional points to the overall scores of vehicles that come standard with these road safety features.
Praise for the new federal plan generally seems founded in its proactive nature. Road safety advocates appreciate that the initiatives are taking a safe system approach, rather than focusing solely on driver behavior. It aims to prevent crashes from happening in the first place and not just to minimize potential damage and injury.
finally include information on pedestrian safety, already common practice in Europe.
Pushback on road safety measures
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While many find the NRSS a step in the right direction, some are hesitant around the language used in the plan. Recommendations that simply “consider” or “initiate” certain road safety aspects, highlight a lack of accountability from the DOT. Advocates are concerned about the progress on these issues without the presence of ownership or deadlines. They feel it’s the federal government’s legal obligation to act on these matters.
Of course, the installation of speed cameras remains a polarizing topic. Some argue that it removes the opportunity for law enforcement to make subjective judgements when pulling over vehicles. However, an investigation in Chicago suggests the location of speed cameras can actually make racial inequities worse.
The NRSS recommends any automated enforcement pilot program should take equity into account. How municipalities can go about achieving this remains unclear.
The importance of insurance protection
Recent data on roadway fatalities is not promising. There was an increase of 7.2% from 2019 to 2020 in motor vehicle deaths. Pedestrian fatalities have also been climbing over the past decade, due to larger vehicles traveling at higher speeds.
Life-saving technology, as proposed by the plan, is obviously essential to minimizing road safety incidents. And your insurance policy is just as important for your protection.