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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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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Pennsylvania Drunk Drivers More Likely to be Men
A new study reports that nationwide nearly 60 percent of all drivers in fatal automobile crashes had alcohol or drugs in their systems. In the review of five years of data, researchers found that men, and those driving at night, were more likely to crash with alcohol in their systems. These findings are not much different than the 2011 Pennsylvania alcohol-related crash data that found 76 percent of the drinking drivers in traffic crashes were male.
Researchers at Columbia University reviewed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on fatalities in 14 states. They found that out of 20,150 fatally injured drivers between 2005 and 2009, 57 percent tested positive for at least one drug, and 20 percent had at least two drugs in their system when the accident occurred. Alcohol was the most common drug found in toxicology screenings, followed by marijuana and stimulants comprising 20 percent of the drugs, […]
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PA Legislator to Propose Cellphone Ban
This month we reported that law enforcement have been challenged when enforcing Pennsylvania’s anti-texting law. Since the law allows for talking on the cellphone, drivers can deny they were texting if pulled over and say they were calling someone. At least one Pennsylvania legislator wants to do something about it and is proposing a ban on all cellphone use behind the wheel.
The Pocono Record reports House Appropriations Minority Chairman Rep. Joseph Markosek, D-Allegheny plans to introduce the new regulations in the fall. Although the bill has not yet been circulated for co-sponsorship, Markosek believes it has support within the Democratic caucus.
The ban, that will result in a fine of $50, or $100 if driving in a school zone, work zone or highway safety corridor, is being introduced to help police enforce the current ban on texting while driving.
The Pocono Record references the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation statistics that estimate 58 deaths and more than 14,000 distracted-driving car crashes occurred in 2011. […]
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PennDOT Announces Child Passenger Safety Week
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that when properly restrained infants have a 71 percent greater chance of surviving a car crash and toddlers have a 54 percent decrease in the risk of death. To educate adults on the proper use of child safety restraints, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is joining the NHTSA in its Child Passenger Safety Week campaign. The campaign runs September 16-22, 2012, and ends with National Seat Check Saturday.
The campaign is geared to helping parents find the appropriate car seat for their child. According to the NHTSA:
“There are so many car seat types and models, how do you know which one is right for your child? The right car seat or booster fits your child and your car and is one you will use correctly every time you travel. Not only will your child ride as safely as possible, […]
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