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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One in Four Moms Text While Driving With Babies
New mothers are talking and texting on cell phones – and even checking e-mail – while driving with their baby on board, according to a new survey.
Seventy-eight percent of mothers with children under two years old admitted talking on the phone while driving with their babies. And more than a quarter of them said they text and check e-mail.
The survey was conducted by the child-protection advocacy group Safe Kids Worldwide and American Baby magazine.
One scary conclusion: The driving habits of new moms are every bit as dangerous as that of teenage drivers.
Texting while driving creates a crash risk 23 times higher than driving while not distracted, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Following is from USA Today:
The survey of 2,396 mothers finds an attitude among new moms that is reflected in the general population: They tend to think they’re safe drivers but actually engage in risky habits. […]
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10 Tips for PA Winter Driving Safety
A recent article in the New York Times Magazine has found that dangerous driving is once again a serious issue in America. According to the article, in September 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation released data that showed that 21 states had recorded climbing rates of fatal crashes in 2023 compared with the same period in 2022.
Not only is it dangerous for other drivers to be on the roads, but pedestrians as well — a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that SUVs or vans with a hood height that’s greater than 40 inches are 45 percent more likely to kill pedestrians than smaller cars.
Unfortunately, the winter weather does pose a significant threat to many Pennsylvanians each year. Snowy weather causes treacherous conditions on our roadways. Each winter, we hear stories of people injured and killed in auto accidents across Pennsylvania caused by drivers who don’t use proper care in hazardous conditions. […]
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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. […]
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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. […]
