The Government Approach to Improving Vehicle/Highway Transportation Safety and its Effectiveness

Highway accidents (crashes) remain a major societal concern in the United States and around the world. The loss of life, injuries, and the associated economic loss are alarming. Government at all levels has been mobilized to address transportation safety in the United States. This paper assesses the current safety situation on U.S. roadways. Then, we detail the federal, state, and local government efforts that address different aspects of surface transportation safety. The entities involved in this effort are identified, and their recent data collection, research, and regulatory activities are described. An analysis of the improvement of the surface transportation safety over the past decade indicates that these efforts have resulted in significant highway safety improvements.