State transportation officials commit to reverse ‘unacceptable’ crash trend

Indianapolis — Members of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials have pledged to work together on a safety action plan aimed at reducing fatal traffic crashes.

A resolution, released Nov. 16 on the heels of the inaugural AASHTO Safety Summit, states the association’s intention to:

• Share among states “notable and innovative tools, best practices, policies, and other resources for incorporating safety into program, project and data-driven decisions that are coordinated and carried out throughout the project lifecycle – including work zones and maintenance and operations.”
• Develop additional resources to address gaps and needs.

AASHTO notes that nearly 43,000 people died in traffic crashes in 2022, while pedestrian deaths surged 72.6% from 2010 to 2021 – to 7,388 from 4,280. The association calls these developments part of a “wholly unacceptable public health crisis” that must be addressed.

“This resolution acknowledges that state [Departments of Transportation] play a major role in ensuring mobility and safety for all road users,” AASHTO President Roger Millar said in a press release, “and it highlights our support for safe system approaches and the creation of a safety action plan to make real progress in saving lives.”