Support Safe Vehicles

The role that vehicle design and technologies play in avoiding or mitigating the harm of crashes cannot be overstated. Seat belts and air bags, for example, prevented an estimated 425,000 fatalities in traffic crashes since they were first required by the federal government. Since the dramatic increase in vehicle size and weight, the need to expand mandates from local, state and federal governments has never been greater. FSS advocates to improve vehicle design for cars and trucks and expand the availability of vehicle systems and features that help to prevent crashes and minimize the impact of crashes to those both inside and outside of vehicles. Given the surge in deaths and serious injuries to people walking and biking in recent years, it is critical that action be taken to improve vehicle safety to address this crisis.

Countries around the world are mandating a range of safety technologies that assist drivers including automatic emergency braking that can detect and prevent crashes with people walking and biking, intelligent speed assistance that can provide audible and visual warnings to drivers when they are going too fast and even slowly reduce the vehicles speed, blind spots warning devices that let drivers know when someone is nearby that they may not be able to see, and more. U.S. failure to use this proven safety technology results in thousands of lives lost and millions seriously injured each year. At a time when fatalities are skyrocketing on our roadways, we should be using every tool that has been proven to be effective in reducing crashes.

Studies show that vehicles with higher, more vertical front ends raise risks for people walking and biking. The research arm of the insurance industry found that pickups, SUVs and vans with a hood height greater than 40 inches are about 45% more likely to cause deaths in pedestrian crashes than cars and other vehicles with a hood height of 30 inches or less and a sloping profile. Smaller and softer hood designs can also help save lives.

Speed Limiters for Repeat OffenderS

Repeat offenders are an overall small number of drivers that are disproportionately responsible for carnage on our streets. When someone drives drunk, they are required to put a device in their car that prevents you from doing that again. When you speed, repeatedly, we should use similar technology to stop that. FSS advocates for legislation to ensure that repeat reckless drivers are required to install an intelligent speed assistance device in their vehicle to prevent them from speeding so that they do not kill or injure someone. Support our FSS New York Chapter in fighting for passage of the Speed Limiters Bill for Repeat Offenders. Contact us if you want to introduce similar legislation in your community.

Safer Fleets Challenge: the Federal Fleet Needs to Lead the Way

Around the country, local governments are joining the Safer Fleets Challenge and taking steps to retrofit their fleets with intelligent speed assistance. Families for Safe Streets has joined with America Walks and others to get 50 local governments to adopt ISA by 2025. As part of the federal government’s commitment to eliminate traffic deaths on our roadways, the federal government should be leading the way and installing ISA in all 600,000 non-emergency federal vehicles.

American cities including New York City are already piloting the most effective type of ISA technology in their city fleets with tremendous results. In January 2023, the city announced the initiative's early success with fleet vehicles staying within the set speed limits for 99% of miles driven and a 36% reduction in hard braking events. Hard braking indicates unsafe driving habits, including speeding and tailgating.