Due to FHWA efforts, as well as those of highway engineers, state departments of transportation, local transportation agencies, and the automobile industry, driving has become an increasingly safer activity. From 1966-2001, the fatality rate declined from 5.5/100 million highway vehicle miles traveled (HVMT) to 1.52 fatalities/HVMT. However, despite advances and improvements, more than 42,000 people died in automobile crashes in 2001: 1 death every 13 minutes--far too high a price to pay for mobility. The FHWA is continuing to keep highway safety as the centerpoint of its efforts as one of the agency's 3 must-do goals--safety, environmental stewardship and streamlining, and congestion mitigation. This article discusses the ongoing FHWA focus on increasing safety and reducing fatalities on the road.
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