A second is the roads themselves. Their value adds up to far more than the designs and materials from which they are constructed. As the means of our great national mobility and competitiveness, they are a priceless asset whose preservation and improvement hinge on decisions Congress is making now. While money and mobility are the themes of our coverage, we would be remiss if we did not point out that this bill also is very much about public safety. In making decisions about how to spend the money, Congress must bear in mind that an investment in pavement and bridges is an investment in safety.
Substandard highways are unsafe.
Outdated designs on two-lane roads that make up nearly half of the National Highway System are costing lives. Roadside rest areas are overflowing. The solution is to spend more money and spend it wisely. We also need to make improvements in the way the commercial driver license is administered. The program has been a success, but it can be improved by requiring performance-based testing for applicants and by setting up an identification system that will eliminate duplicate licenses.