What You Should Know about the “Road to Zero” Coalition
The Delaware auto accident attorneys of Silverman, McDonald & Friedman are strong advocates for their clients who have been injured and are seeking compensation for their losses. You are welcome to contact us to meet with a member of our team in one of our offices, located in Seaford, Wilmington and Newark.
The number of people who lost their lives in auto accidents in the first six months of 2016 has increased significantly over the previous year. In the first half of 2016, the number of traffic-related fatalities was 17,775, which is up 10.4%over the 16,100 fatalities in the same period in 2015. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released the early estimates of motor vehicle traffic fatalities for the first half of 2016 and the numbers do not look good. According to a story on NPR.org, there has not been such a large, single-year increase in traffic deaths since 1966, when Lyndon Johnson was president.
One of the contributing factors may be the fact that the number of vehicle miles traveled in 2015 increased 3.5% over the previous year, which was the largest increase in nearly 25 years according to NHTSA reports. When there are more drivers on the roads there are more crashes, more injuries and more traffic fatalities.
In response to this less than encouraging news, the Department of Transportation has announced a “Road to Zero” coalition with a 30-year goal of having zero fatalities on U.S. roads. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said, “We know that setting the bar for safety to the highest possible standard requires commitment from everyone to think differently about safety, from drivers to industry, safety organizations and government at all levels.” The plan is focused on increasing traffic safety which includes programs such as:
- Improving seat belt use
- Installing rumble strips
- Improving truck safety
The focus will be on what the DOT is calling the “4Es,” which are Education, Engineering, Enforcement and Emergency Medical Services to drive down traffic fatalities. One of the prongs of the new safety strategy is the introduction of automated vehicles, and the new regulatory policies that will encourage technological innovation with a focus on safety.
The “Vision Zero” plan was borrowed from Sweden, where it was adopted in 1997. Now several cities in the United States have adopted vision zero fatality programs such as New York City.
If you have been injured in an auto accident, we are ready to help you. At the law offices of Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, our auto accident attorneys in Newark, Seaford, Wilmington represent people throughout Delaware who have been injured or who have lost a loved one in an accident caused by the negligence of another. Please call us at 302.414.5553 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation to discuss your injury case with an experienced auto accident lawyer.
Attorney Jeffrey S. Friedman joined Silverman, McDonald & Friedman in 2001. He graduated from Widener University School of Law, and is admitted to practice law in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and in several Federal Circuit courts. He areas of concentration include auto accident and workers’ compensation cases. Read more about Attorney Friedman here.