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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2011 Pennsylvania Crash Statistics Reveal Pennsylvania Highways are Getting Safer
The 2011 Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics booklet, published by the Bureau of Maintenance and Operations, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, is now available. The report is a statistical review of motor vehicle crashes in Pennsylvania for the calendar year 2011.
According to PENNDOT, Pennsylvania roadways are getting safer. In fact, the 2011 fatality rate of 1.27 deaths per hundred million vehicle-miles of travel was the second lowest ever recorded in Pennsylvania since the department started keeping records of this in 1935. In addition, the 1,286 accident fatalities in 2011 were the second lowest recorded over the last 68 years.
Following are some of the key findings from the report:
- The total number of reported crashes in 2011 increased 3.4% compared to 2010, but the number of deaths decreased by 2.9%.
- In 2011, there were 125,395 reportable traffic crashes in Pennsylvania. […]
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Pennsylvania Drunk Drivers Target of Police Crackdown
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is once again getting the message out to Americans to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” Pennsylvania State Police and law enforcement agencies across the country are joining in the latest campaign, that runs through Labor Day, in an effort to get impaired drivers off roads.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2010 State Motor Vehicle Fatalities statistics, there were 10,228 alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities nationwide in 2010. Pennsylvania saw 433 alcohol-related highway deaths in 2010. These deaths represented 24 percent of the 1,324 fatal accidents in the state that year. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reports preliminary data shows there were 428 alcohol-related accident fatalities and approximately 11,700 alcohol-related crashes statewide in 2011.
In a ceremony in Berks County where officials unveiled a memorial for victims of DUI accidents, Trooper Ethan Brownback said, […]
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Deadly Pennyslvania Accident Serves as a Reminder of the Importance of Seatbelts
A deadly car accident in Wells Tannery last month serves as a reminder that seatbelts are not an inconvenience – they can be lifesavers. Two teens died and two were seriously injured when the driver of their car apparently lost control sending the vehicle off the roadway and into several trees. Sadly, none of the four occupants were wearing a seatbelt.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that while the use of seatbelts saved 356 lives in Pennsylvania in 2010, another 136 could have been saved if all of the people had buckled up. The NHTSA reports that 868 people (aged 5 and over) died in PA accidents in 2010. Of those, 273 were properly restrained, whereas 505 did not have their seatbelts on at the time of the crash.
JustDrivePA.org maintains key educational material on its website related to seatbelt usage. […]
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PennDOT Offers PA Residents Key Safety Resources
Although you may have heard of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) in regards to road construction projects throughout the state, PennDOT is also tasked with keeping the Pennsylvania roadways safe through various programs and campaigns. As part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, PennDOT launched “Just Drive PA,” a new initiative aimed at improving safety on Pennsylvania roadways.
According to a PennDOT notice:
The ‘Just Drive’ slogan reinforces that distractions, driving impaired and other unsafe driving behaviors have no place on our roadways.” said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. It reinforces the need to drive properly, wear seat belts, look out for other travelers and always avoid distractions. Remember “when you’re behind the wheel, your biggest and only responsibility is to focus on safe driving.
The Just Drive PA website, […]
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Pennsylvania Drivers Encouraged to Observe National Cell Phone Courtesy Month
Just last week we reported on the U.S. Department of Transportation‘s initiative to combat distracted driving – the Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving. Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys are committed to raising awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, most often caused by cellphone use behind the wheel. Now, “National Cell Phone Courtesy Month” runs through July, and PA drivers have yet one more opportunity to put down their cellphones when driving.
Jacqueline Moore, an international etiquette expert, began the cellphone courtesy initiative in 2002 when she realized that many Americans were unsure of the etiquette around cellphone use. Although her intent of the campaign is to encourage others to be more respectful of their surroundings while using their cell phone, as distracted driving becomes more widespread, cellphone courtesy should extend to vehicles. According to government statistics, over 3,000 Americans lose their lives every year on U.S. […]
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