May 16, 2022 – Federal data being released this week by the Transportation Department is expected to show another big jump in U.S. traffic deaths through 2021. Fatalities among pedestrians and cyclists have been rising faster than those within vehicles.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is directing $5 billion in federal aid to cities and localities to address the growing crisis by slowing down cars, carving out bike paths and wider sidewalks and nudging commuters to public transit under his department’s new Safe Streets & Roads for All program. “We have become far too accustomed to the loss of life and serious injuries happening on our roadways.”
“We face a national crisis of fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways, and these tragedies are preventable — so as a nation we must work urgently and collaboratively to save lives.” Buttigieg said the money “will help communities large and small take action to protect all Americans on our roads.”
