Safety
Let’s save lives.
Motor vehicle crashes remain a significant public safety challenge; however, there are encouraging signs of progress, thanks to advancements in technology and a focused effort on safety.
Based on preliminary data and estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 39,345 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2024.
This number represents a decrease of about 3.8% compared to the 40,901 fatalities reported in 2023. The 2024 projection marks the first time since 2020 that the number of traffic fatalities in the U.S. has fallen below 40,000. While the overall trend is positive, safety remains a top priority for mobility.
Work Zone Safety
Highway construction zones present a unique and dangerous combination of hazards that contribute to traffic crashes and fatalities. The dynamic environment, changing traffic patterns, and presence of heavy equipment create a high-risk scenario. Driver error is the leading cause of work zone crashes. While the majority of lives lost are motorists and passengers, the tragic loss of workers has galvanized AASHTO to prioritize safety this year.
Large trucks and commercial vehicles are disproportionately involved in fatal crashes in work zones. While they make up a smaller percentage of the total vehicles on the road, their size, weight, and operational limitations make trucks particularly lethal in the confined, ever-changing environment of a construction zone.
The Road to Safer Transportation
Technology is critical to improving transportation safety. Vehicle and infrastructure technologies are evolving to detect and correct human error and prevent crashes. The Ray focuses on helping improve safety outcomes, including:
Advanced Data Analytics: Taking a proactive approach, synced systems can be stacked to monitor road user behavior in and around highway construction zones and redirect traffic flow to prevent incidents altogether. The Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) initiative aimed at standardizing and streamlining the exchange of information about highway construction zones.
Connectivity and Automation: The future of transportation safety lies in connected vehicles and automated systems. Technologies are being developed to help reduce the risks of distracted driving and other common sources of human error, creating a more cohesive and protected environment that paves the way for future Drone-as-First-Responder (DFR) programs to streamline emergency response.
Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X): Enhancing safety by providing a "sixth sense" for vehicles, C-V2X improves situational awareness beyond existing on-board sensors, like cameras and radar. For commercial fleet management systems, this emerging technology enhances remote diagnostics and enables platooning, allowing trucks to drive in a close, coordinated convoy to save fuel.