Safe System Weekly | December 20, 2024
by Russ Martin
Welcome to this week’s edition! As of publication, there’s still been no federal budget deal finalized, and a possible, controversial Continuing Resolution through March 14 is being renegotiated. As the administration winds down, we’re seeing additional departures. For instance, FHWA Acting Administrator Kristin White’s last day was last week.?
On a final note, Safe System Weekly is going on holiday break. We will return on January 10, catch up on all that we missed, and likely have some takeaways from TRB. Stay safe!?
GHSA, MADD, NSC, Safe Kids, Advocates: NHTSA Needs a Senate-Confirmed Administrator??
A coalition of national safety groups sent a letter to the new administration asking to put an Administrator in place for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has gone without one for most of the last seven years amid troubling trends in traffic deaths.??
MADD, GHSA, AAA, Advocates, Responsibility.org: NHTSA Needs More Progress on Impaired Driving Tech ?
In another joint letter, a coalition of national safety advocates also responded to a recent NHTSA report to Congress showing limited progress on the agency’s mandate to create a new anti-drunk driving technology Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS).?
NHTSA Publishes Seat Belt Warning, Event Data Recorder Rules?
New passenger cars and other vehicles will be required to have a rear seat belt warning starting next year, according to newly announced rulemaking. Rear belt use continues to lag and is more difficult to for police to enforce. NHTSA has also released a new rule to enhance the quality of information collected from event data recorders.??
Trump to Take Reins as Biden Implements Infrastructure Bill?
As the national transportation players line up for next year in D.C. in Congress and at U.S. DOT, this presidential transition will have many implications for key transportation issues like electric vehicles, trucking policy, and the ongoing implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). FHWA also recently updated its BIL landing page.??
Registration Opens for AASHTO 2025 Washington Briefing?
AASHTO will be gathering February 3-6 in Washington, D.C. for a multi-day discussion of national policy.??
Waymo Announces Independent First Responder Evaluation?
The autonomous vehicle technology company brought in an independent review firm to assess its first responder protocols. Meanwhile, despite dramatic changes in the AV sector, Waymo’s business has continued to quietly grow.?
?
Visit Us at TRB 2025 ?
Finally, one last reminder to see the CS team at TRB in Washington, D.C. January 5 – 9. Several CS staff will be presenting in TRB sessions. CS will be in Booth 312 in the exhibit hall.??
CS Openings?
?
? Make sure you hit subscribe to get notifications when the next edition is out.?
?
Happy Holidays! Thanks for reading.
Send me any updates you'd like me to include next week at [email protected] or message me on LinkedIn.?
?
Visit our website?