Pathways to Safer Streets

The data is clear: Despite hard-won progress, the roadway safety crisis is still a significant behavioral problem in the United States. At NHTSA, we aim to drastically reduce injuries and fatalities through the eight core pathways listed below. These actions form the foundation of our plan to reengage law enforcement, curtail risky driving behaviors, strengthen emergency response, and rebuild a culture of safety and responsibility that will save lives on America’s roads.

Reengage Law Enforcement

Did You Know? Data-driven high visibility enforcement deters and interrupts illegal and dangerous driving behaviors – ultimately promoting voluntary compliance with traffic laws. When law enforcement is present, people choose safer actions.

NHTSA in Action: A cornerstone of this strategy is renewed engagement with law enforcement. NHTSA will revitalize partnerships with law enforcement to increase traffic enforcement, restoring the “deterrence effect” that has weakened since the pandemic. This pathway will restore and enhance grants and partnerships, create new public service awards for exemplary traffic enforcement, and increase training for prosecutors and judges to ensure unsafe drivers face consequences.

Additional Resources: Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety

Reduce Excessive Speeding

Did You Know? Speeding contributes to 30% of all roadway fatalities every year. High speeds are especially dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users outside a vehicle.

NHTSA in Action: NHTSA will promote the smart use of automated technology to augment traditional law enforcement. This allows for consistent enforcement in high-risk zones without overextending law enforcement resources.

Prevent Impaired Driving

Did You Know? Impaired driving contributes to more than a third of all roadway fatalities every year. Of drivers arrested or convicted for DWI, 25% are repeat offenders.

NHTSA in Action: NHTSA will focus on support for innovative approaches to increased prosecution, specialized legal support, and implementation of technologies that help reduce impaired driving recidivism. The agency will improve state data systems to track offenders from arrest through adjudication and improve collaboration.

Additional Resources: Guide for Implementing an Impaired Driving Tracking System

Leverage State Highway Safety Offices

Did You Know? Reducing roadway fatalities requires analysis of state and local crash data, and the application of effective countermeasures.

NHTSA in Action: NHTSA will provide SHSOs with an AI-powered State Program Hub that offers 24/7 access to real-time data insights by visualizing trends and hotspots, helping identify priority safety issues and tailored countermeasures to support informed decision making.

Expand Prehospital Blood Transfusion Programs

Did You Know? Nationally, 43% of people killed in crashes between 2019 and 2023 were alive when first responders arrived on the scene. One of the most promising innovations in post-crash care is prehospital blood transfusion, which research shows decreases mortality among trauma patients with severe bleeding by 37%.

NHTSA in Action: NHTSA is funding the expansion of prehospital blood transfusion programs across the country. The agency will issue an EMS Guide that identifies countermeasures to prevent crash fatalities and mitigate injuries.

Additional Resources: Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program

Mobilize a National Partnership Strategy

Did You Know? Roadway safety and reducing injuries and fatalities requires partnership at the federal, state, and local levels.

NHTSA in Action: NHTSA will strategically partner with agencies and organizations with national, state, and local audiences to amplify the agency’s messaging and promote connections with SHSOs. This will move public education beyond traditional media to community-level engagement.

Increase Occupant Protection Use

Did You Know? Half of fatalities are unrestrained occupants. More than half (56%) of those killed during the night in 2023 were unrestrained.

NHTSA in Action: NHTSA is funding nighttime enforcement: operations during hours when belt use typically drops. Additionally, we will support states in adopting tougher primary seat belt laws and child passenger safety requirements.

Additional Resources: An Instructional Guide for Building a High Five Rural Seat Belt Program

Reduce Distracted Driving

Did You Know? Distracted driving is underreported, due to the difficulties of capturing real-world data.

NHTSA in Action: We will research innovative ways to identify the full scope of distracted driving and reflect how modern drivers use in-vehicle and other technology on the road. We will gather promising practices from states to prevent distracted driving and publish information on how partial driving automation affects driver distraction.

Additional Resources: Face It: A Message from the Secretary