To amend title 23, United States Code, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with respect to vehicle roadside crashes, work zone safety, and for other purposes.
- Sponsor
- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
- Committees
- Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Apr 24, 2025
Bottom line
The bill aims to enhance road safety by improving data collection, expanding public awareness, and fostering collaborative solutions for roadside and work zone accidents.
What it actually does
This bill expands the scope of federal highway safety programs to specifically address crashes involving disabled vehicles and improve work zone safety. It mandates the inclusion of roadside and work zone deaths in injury health data, broadens public awareness campaigns for 'Move Over' laws, and establishes two new working groups to collect data and develop solutions for disabled vehicle crashes and work zone crashes. Additionally, it requires an annual report on the effectiveness of work zone safety contingency funds.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that this bill is a crucial step towards reducing preventable fatalities and injuries on U.S. roadways, particularly for vulnerable populations like motorists with disabled vehicles and construction workers. They contend that better data collection and targeted awareness campaigns are essential to identify problem areas and implement effective, evidence-based safety solutions.
Opponents contend
Critics might express concerns about the potential for increased administrative burden on federal agencies and state and local entities due to the establishment of new working groups and reporting requirements, without clear new funding mechanisms. Some may also argue that existing programs are sufficient and that adding more layers of bureaucracy might not lead to significantly improved outcomes.
The bill is very short and clearly written, making it highly accessible for any reader to understand its provisions and implications quickly.
Section 1(a)
Expansion of Highway Safety and Improvement Program (HSIP)
This provision amends the Highway Safety and Improvement Program (HSIP) to explicitly include 'occupants and pedestrians associated with disabled vehicles' in its safety considerations. This means that federal funds allocated through HSIP can now be more directly used for projects and strategies aimed at preventing crashes involving people who are outside or near their disabled vehicles on roadways, alongside existing efforts for other road users.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that explicitly including disabled vehicle occupants and pedestrians in HSIP ensures that a significant and often overlooked vulnerable group receives dedicated attention and resources for safety improvements, leading to a reduction in tragic roadside incidents.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against expanding safety program eligibility to cover more vulnerable groups, as the intent is universally seen as positive. Potential concerns might revolve around resource allocation if new categories dilute focus without additional funding.
Tradeoffs
The primary tension is ensuring that by broadening the scope of HSIP, existing critical safety priorities do not receive diminished attention without a corresponding increase in overall funding. It balances the need to address a specific vulnerability with the broader demands on highway safety resources.
Section 1(b)
Enhanced Injury Health Data Collection
This section amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to require that injury health data specifically include 'roadside deaths and work zone deaths.' This change aims to ensure that federal agencies collect more granular and accurate data on fatalities occurring in these specific high-risk environments, which is critical for understanding the scope of the problem and developing targeted interventions.
Section 1(c)
Expanded Public Awareness for 'Move Over' Laws
This provision expands the focus of public awareness campaigns for 'Move Over or Slow Down' laws. Currently, these campaigns often emphasize authorized emergency vehicles. This amendment broadens the scope to include 'motorist, disabled vehicle, worker, vehicle or machinery in a work zone,' ensuring that public education efforts cover a wider range of roadside hazards and vulnerable individuals.
Section 1(d)
Establishment of Disabled Vehicle Crash Working Group
This section mandates the Secretary of Transportation, in conjunction with OSHA and other agencies, to convene a working group focused on disabled roadside vehicle crashes. This group will include industry, non-government entities, high-risk communities, and professionals like truckers and first responders. Its duties include collecting and analyzing data, developing a strategic plan for solutions, improving data sharing with NHTSA (including adoption of Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria), and providing annual updates on awareness and intervention activities.
Section 1(e)
Establishment of Work Zone Crash Working Group
This section directs the Secretary of Transportation, in conjunction with OSHA and FHWA, to establish a working group focused on work zone crashes. This group will comprise industry stakeholders, including contractors, engineers, labor unions, and state transportation officials. Its responsibilities mirror those of the disabled vehicle group: collecting and analyzing data, developing a strategic plan for solutions, increasing the use and effectiveness of work zone safety contingency funds, improving data sharing with NHTSA (including Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria), and providing annual updates.
Section 1(f)
Annual Report on Work Zone Safety Contingency Funds
This provision requires the Administrator of the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) to submit an annual report to Congress on the use and effectiveness of work zone safety contingency funds. The report must detail which states have used these funds, how much funding each state dedicated, and provide recommendations for improving their nationwide implementation. This aims to increase transparency and accountability regarding how these funds are utilized to enhance work zone safety.