Safety is the department's North Star and you champion safety every day. FHWA is first a safety organization. Our dedication is demonstrated by the construction and operation of the safest highway system in the world.
Independent research shows interstate highways are three to four times safer than other roads.
You have challenged us to bring this same safety vision and execution to motor carrier operations. We will demonstrate our commitment through risk-based assessments and strong enforcement. Success will require education, training and outreach efforts with our many partners. I am pleased that the latest crash figures show, for the first time in three years, a real-number decline in the number of fatalities for crashes involving larger trucks. Each number represents a precious human life, and a decrease of almost 100 in our data means that many lives saved.