The National Highway Safety Council announced its new “Road to Zero” Coalition on Oct. 5, 2016. This partnership among the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and Federal Highway Administration will focus on the goal of ending traffic fatalities on U.S. roads over the next 30 years.

To support the effort, the Department of Transportation has set aside $1 million per year for the next three years. This money will provide grants to organizations that develop lifesaving programs to decrease fatalities and increase safety efforts.

The number of traffic-related deaths in 2015 was the highest there has been since 1966. The first half of 2016 also showed that there was an increase in traffic fatalities over the number reported during the same time last year. Our auto accident attorneys in Tulsa don’t take these numbers lightly — if you’ve been injured at the fault of another individual, contact us today.

The 4Es will be the Coalition’s central emphasis: education, enforcement, engineering and emergency medical services. Working together and combining efforts and resources will also be a key component of their plan.

Increased safety efforts will likely initially focus on:

  • Improving seat belt usage
  • Truck safety
  • Behavior change campaigns to decrease speeding and distracted driving
  • Installation of rumble strips

The coalition is also planning to use scenario-based initiatives to help change driving habits and work toward zero fatalities. Hard evidence strategies will also be used as part of a systematic approach to eliminating risks.

New technologies will also take center stage in obtaining the goal of zero fatalities. The introduction of blind spot sensor devices, advanced braking systems and rearview cameras will make the goal of zero traffic fatalities a stronger possibility within the next 30 years.

If you have been involved in an accident, you need an experienced auto accident attorney in Tulsa. Contact the Edwards Law Firm for a free review of your case.