Safety must be top priority within the U.S. Department of Transportation to achieve the goal of zero roadway fatalities and serious injuries by 2050.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United States Senate confirmed the nomination of The Honorable Sean Duffy as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation by a vote of 77 to 22. This bipartisan vote signals trust in Secretary Duffy’s public commitment to make transportation a top priority for the Department of Transportation under his leadership.
In 2022, 46,027 people died in motor-vehicle crashes. These crashes cost $481.2 billion in estimated losses from wages, medical expenses, property damage and employer costs. Moreover, these crashes also impacted families of both victims and survivors – leaving a devastating emotional toll. Secretary Duffy will have the opportunity to advance proven countermeasures that mitigate risky driving behaviors and eliminate traffic crashes.
“Strong leadership is needed atop the United States Department of Transportation in order to continue progress toward eliminating roadway deaths by 2050,” said Lorraine Martin, president and CEO of the National Safety Council and chair of the Road to Zero Coalition. “We look forward to working with Secretary Duffy and his team to accomplish this shared goal. Tackling the current traffic safety crisis depends on us working together to accelerate advanced technology, prioritize safe road design programs and train motorists on safe driving behaviors.”
Speeding, alcohol- and drug-impaired driving, distracted driving and failure to use seat belts remain the leading risky driving behaviors on roadways today. While progress has been made in recent years through discretionary grant programs, Highway Safety Improvement Program funding and federal rulemaking, more work is needed to achieve meaningful reductions in traffic fatalities. This includes finalizing the rule on automatic emergency braking for heavy vehicles, reauthorizing the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program and supporting local jurisdictions in moving away from the outdated 85th percentile speed-setting standard.
NSC is eager to work with Secretary Duffy and USDOT personnel to eliminate traffic fatalities and make our roadways safer for everyone. Together, we can transform the transportation system to ensure safety for all road users.
About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council is America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate and has been for over 110 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace and roadway. We create a culture of safety to protect people from hazard and injury in the workplace and beyond so they can live their fullest lives. Our more than 13,000 member companies and federal agency partners represent employees at nearly 41,000 U.S. worksites.
With a century-long legacy, the National Safety Council is a global center for safety expertise. Let's work together to align resources. We look forward to learning about ways we can join efforts to expand safety everywhere!
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