Your morning drive, a quick store run, or picking up the kids after school—these daily trips should be straightforward. Yet, they often end in tragedy.
Earlier this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Bureau estimated that about 40,000 people died on U.S. roads in 2024. It’s not just a heartbreaking statistic; it’s a sign that our policies are failing. The reality is that many of these accidents could be avoided with improved design, data, and decision-making.
For years, America has tackled road safety in a reactive manner—addressing issues only after tragedies occur. This “fix it after the fact” mentality has resulted in infrastructure focused more on speed and expansion than on safety and sustainability.
It’s time to transition from merely reacting to proactively preventing these incidents. We need to stop looking in the rearview mirror. By identifying risks before they escalate into crises, we could save countless lives.
Fortunately, we have the tools available right now. Millions of Americans use them daily. It’s time for these resources to reshape the planning, funding, and building of American roads.
Every day, countless road users benefit from innovations like smart traffic signals and digital sensors. These technologies can enhance commuting efficiency while also gathering crucial real-time insights to pinpoint infrastructure issues before serious accidents happen.
This anonymous but powerful data helps track driver behaviors—like sudden braking or sharp turns at tricky intersections—highlighting flaws in design that we can address through relatively inexpensive fixes, rather than costly megaprojects. Solutions like roundabouts, improved signage, and reconfigured lanes can significantly enhance safety without breaking the bank.
The benefits extend beyond just safety. Smarter road systems also enhance economic efficiency. For example, freight carriers can avoid risky or congested routes, public transport can optimize bus schedules, and commercial fleets can operate more effectively.
If local transportation professionals—including engineers, planners, and law enforcement—have access to these insights, they can more effectively tackle high-risk areas, reduce congestion, and prioritize infrastructure funding from taxpayers. Some regions are already seeing positive results.
For instance, in Washington, officials are collaborating with private entities to convert live traffic footage into vital information. The Vision Zero program uses AI to analyze near misses and gather data on speeding and risky driving behaviors, guiding design changes to prevent future accidents.
In North Carolina, the NC Vision Zero Initiative employs predictive analytics and driver behavior data to identify crash-prone areas before serious incidents occur. By combining detailed crash mapping with near-miss data, officials can implement low-cost interventions—like improved lighting and clearer signage—before tragedies strike.
To truly modernize America’s road safety approach, we need robust federal leadership. The coalition I lead aims to unite safety advocates, engineers, and public officials to evolve our investment strategies in road safety. Our objective is clear: better data, improved tools, and effective results for American transportation.
We’ve seen similar successes in sectors like finance, healthcare, and energy. There’s no reason the American transportation system should lag behind. With strong Congressional backing and collaborative policy frameworks, we can expand these innovative tools across all communities.
Let’s stop viewing road fatalities as just an unavoidable consequence of mobility. We shouldn’t burden friends and families with the cost of inaction. It’s time to design roads that put safety first—saving lives, boosting efficiency, and ensuring that American infrastructure serves everyone well.
This is a call to action—not just a statistic of 40,000 annual deaths.
