IBTTA Recognized for Commitment to the Safe Systems Approach Toward Zero Roadway Fatalities

The International Bridge, Tunnel, and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) has been recognized as an Ally for Action in the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) campaign to eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries. As we prepare for IBTTA's inaugural Global Road Safety Week from June 24-28, we are honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with USDOT and their extensive network of stakeholders to embrace the Safe Systems Approach central to the National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS).

IBTTA brings a great deal to the national conversation on ensuring the safety and well-being of all road users. The association excels at bringing together communities to share best practices and solve problems. Every day, I see firsthand how our members across the globe work to maintain and improve road operations and systems, creating value for those who use the facilities. Drivers of priced roads expect and deserve more in exchange for the tolls they pay. Surveys indicate that motorists view safety as a significant and tangible benefit of using tolled facilities. A "Safe Systems" approach is ingrained in the DNA of most toll operators.

Toll road operators build safety into every aspect of the business including design, materials, construction practices, regular maintenance, incident management, emergency/medical response, traveler information, and roadway management and enforcement, to name just a few. Quick clearance of road obstructions and incidents prevent crashes and delays. Better maintained roads create safer travel conditions. Better travel alerts result in more attentive driving and in-route decisions. Road operations and law enforcement personnel foster safer conditions.

Reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on America's roads is no simple task. It requires changing how we all think about road safety. While people and driver behavior are critical elements, they are not the only aspects. USDOT must be commended for raising national attention on holistic solutions to the unacceptable level of fatalities and injuries on American roadways. The Safe Systems Approach identifies the spectrum of underlying causes for highway crashes, and the National Roadway Safety Strategy offers the means to move us toward a national goal of zero highway deaths. The NRSS focuses on five complementary goals for achieving Vision Zero: safer people, safer roads, safer speeds, safer vehicles, and post-crash care.

As IBTTA embarks on its "Be Safe Together" campaign for Global Road Safety Week, we will be raising the bar. The activities kick off an ongoing program aimed at intentional activities across all systems and disciplines, initially focusing on changing the mindsets of drivers and all road users. Like in so many aspects of American life today, a little civility and respect for others goes a long way. Roads are shared public spaces which serve a community of users and workers. The little things that drivers can do, like flicking on the blinker, maintaining reasonable following distances, slowing down a bit, or letting someone in front of you all add up to big differences in safer travel. The small acts of conscientiousness and empathy will pave the way for a community where every journey ends safely. Let's all Be Safe Together!