The safety of people is at the heart of the U.S. Department of Transportation's mission. By encouraging responsible driving behaviors and creating conditions that prioritize safety, we can ensure that everyone reaches their destination unharmed. Despite most road users behaving safely, lapses in judgment and risky behaviors still lead to fatalities.
Key Behavioral Safety Factors
Three critical behaviors continue to drive roadway fatalities: not wearing seat belts, alcohol impairment, and speeding. These factors are responsible for thousands of preventable deaths each year.
Combining these behaviors significantly increases risks, highlighting the importance of addressing these issues comprehensively.
The National Roadway Safety Strategy
The National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) focuses on using education, outreach, engineering solutions, and enforcement to tackle persistent safety challenges. By understanding the root causes of risky behaviors, we can better influence safer driving practices and reduce roadway fatalities, especially among vulnerable groups like pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and children.
NRSS Focus Areas
- Education and outreach to promote safe behaviors
- Engineering solutions for safer road design
- Enforcement to address persistent safety challenges
- Protecting vulnerable groups: pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and children