Safety On the Road

Every family, individual and business in the country relies on our nation’s roadways. There should be an expectation of safety when traveling to work, school or for leisure. But far too often, our roads are where lives are lost.

More than 40,000 people died in 2016 in vehicle crashes, and the numbers have been climbing. From 2014 to 2016, fatalities increased 14% – the largest two-year increase in 50 years. Each of these deaths is preventable, and the National Safety Council is working on a variety of fronts to reduce crashes, prevent injuries and save lives.

In 2016, we made roads safer

EDUCATION

Education

PARTNERED WITH THE NATIONAL AUTO DEALERS Association and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators to position MyCarDoesWhat.org® to educate drivers about safety features in their cars and how to get the most out of them. In 2016, the MyCarDoesWhat.org® campaign had more than 6 billion impressions.

INITIATED ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH in April with the theme “Take Back Your Drive.” Print and broadcast placements highlighting an NSC survey that asked drivers about their behaviors behind the wheel reached nearly 1 billion people. The social hashtag #TakeBackYourDrive was used in 1,661 posts, more than a 100% increase over the 2015 campaign.

RESEARCH

Research

CONDUCTED A PUBLIC OPINION POLL that examined driver behavior. The poll revealed that family, more often than friends or co-workers, drives them to distraction.

CONDUCTED A SOCIAL MEDIA POLL that showed the U.S. public is increasingly viewing driver-assistance technology in a positive light.

PARTICIPATED IN NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION sessions around the country on advanced vehicles and injury prevention models in non-motor vehicle fields.

CONVENED WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD a panel of experts to discuss driver-assistance technologies and how they will prevent deaths on the road.

LEADERSHIP

Leadership

KICKED OFF THE ROAD TO ZERO Coalition. This partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation is aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities within 30 years.

CALLED FOR ENHANCED AND MORE UNIFORM PRACTICES in child passenger safety for children riding in cars, school buses and airplanes.

TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS on advanced-technology vehicles and their incorporation into the American driving fleet.

ADVOCATED FOR SAFER TRANSPORTATION with federal, state and local agencies.