What Is the Department of Transportation (DOT)?
The Department of Transportation (DOT) is the federal agency responsible for planning and coordinating federal transportation projects and setting safety regulations for all modes of transportation in the United States.
According to the official description, DOT’s mission is to “Ensure our Nation has the safest, most efficient, and modern transportation system in the world, which improves the quality of life for all American people and communities, from rural to urban, and increases the productivity and competitiveness of American workers and businesses.” The DOT plays a crucial role in setting and enforcing regulations that affect transportation safety, infrastructure development, and environmental sustainability.
DOT’s main activities include funding infrastructure projects, conducting research to improve transportation systems, and implementing policies to enhance safety and accessibility. It also addresses issues such as traffic management, vehicle safety standards, and the environmental impact of transportation. Understanding the Department of Transportation is critical to comprehending how federal policy influences the everyday movement of people and goods, shaping economic development and public safety nationwide.
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4 Pennsylvania School Bus Accidents In One Week
Week in early December 2012 yields high amount of school bus accidents
In less than a week, there were four separate school bus wrecks in Pennsylvania – with dozens of students being rushed to hospitals.
Contributing factors included inclement weather, hazardous road conditions, decreased visibility due to shorter days and increased holiday traffic.
There were 121,312 reportable traffic wrecks in Pennsylvania in 2010, according to the state Department of Transportation. A total of 1,324 people were killed in Pennsylvania automobile crashes that year, and 88,000 were injured.
Following are summaries of the four school bus wrecks, all of which occurred in early December:
- 20 York County students taken to the hospital. The school bus they were riding in was struck from behind by a sports utility vehicle just after 7 AM on December 14. The extent of the injuries was unknown, […]
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PA Pedestrian Accidents Rise At Christmas
Shorter days and extended holiday hours can be a deadly mix for Pennsylvania shoppers.
Far more pedestrians are struck and killed by vehicles at night – almost 71 percent – than during daylight hours, according to crash statistics from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
And most of these deaths occur in areas other than intersections, such as mid-block crossings, driveways, and parking lots.
The danger is especially great in the Christmas season when excited shoppers are rushing to and from malls and downtown business districts with armloads of packages and children in tow.
A total of 1,539 pedestrians were injured when hit by a vehicle in non-daylight hours, according to the 2011 Pennsylvania DOT Crash Facts and Statistics – and 106 pedestrians were killed.
If you or a loved one is hurt in a pedestrian accident in Pennsylvania, […]
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7 Tips for Safe Winter Driving in PA
Winter driving safety relies on Department of Transportation as well as drivers
In the coming months, state highway workers will be dumping nearly a half-million tons of salt to keep icy Pennsylvania roads safe.
And drivers are being urged to do their part as well.
This is the season of dangerous travel. In 2011, there were 1,994 vehicle crashes and 19 fatalities during the Christmas and New Year travel periods in Pennsylvania.
The state Department of Transportation – with 5,400 operators and 2,250 trucks on standby – has issued a winter travel safety alert:
“PennDOT’s primary goal during winter weather is keeping our nearly 40,000 miles of roadway passable, which means they won’t necessarily be free of ice and snow during storms,” [PennDOT Secretary Barry] Schoch said. “Getting through winter safely is a shared responsibility between us and our customers.”
Following are some safe winter motoring tips:
- Know the danger areas. […]
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Text & Wreck Targets Young PA Drivers
Young drivers in Pennsylvania will soon be noticing a “Text and Wreck” button popping up on social media sites.
The logo is the winning entry in a national Distracted Driving Design Challenge sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Its creator was 14-year-old high school student Hah’mari Watson, who said the artwork was inspired after she and her family were in a car crash caused by a texting driver.
View or download her winning “Text & Wreck” icon here.
The Distracted Driving Design Challenge was held to create awareness among young motorists about the dangers of texting and cell phone use behind the wheel. The “Text & Wreck” image will be used on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites.
“The Department of Transportation is committed to helping young drivers get the message that texting and driving don’t mix,” said U.S. […]
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Pennsylvania School Bus Drivers Win Safety Honors
Congratulations to those Pennsylvania students and bus drivers who won School Bus Safety awards at a recent ceremony in Harrisburg.
Twelve elementary and middle school students and six drivers from across the state were honored in the 2012 Pennsylvania School Bus Safety Poster Contest and Driver Safety Competition. The events were part of School Bus Safety Week from October 22-26.
This year’s poster theme was “Stand Back from the Yellow and Black.” It stressed the need for students to stay a safe distance from the bus so drivers can see them while loading and unloading. The dozen winners were chosen from among 475 public and private school student entries.
The driving competition tests bus drivers’ knowledge of safety rules and safe operation of their buses.
“Parents trust school bus drivers to take their children to and from school every day – and do it safely,” said State Police Safety Supervisor Richard Koontz in a DOT press release. […]
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