The recently passed bipartisan infrastructure bill President Joe Biden signed has the potential to aid a variety of crucial National Transportation and Safety Board safety priorities. 

National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said Nov. 8 the approved legislation would help the agency advance more than a dozen safety priorities. 

"This is a very big win for transportation safety," Homendy said in the release. "From protecting vulnerable road users to equipping vehicles with advanced drunk driving prevention technology, this legislation will save lives."

To protect vulnerable road users through the "Safe System Approach," 

the infrastructure plan will allow the NTSB to update the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), including the incorporation of vulnerable road user safety, require the Department of Transportation to allow for vehicles to have adaptive headlamp systems, and require further research in examining how connected vehicle systems can account for bicyclists and other vulnerable road users, federal transportation officials said. The plan would also address school bus safety.

Though, controversial for the spending amount, the now-approved deal continues to receive widespread support from politicians to organizations and special interest groups. 

The Progressive Railroading Magazine tweeted its article Nov. 10, headlined, "Infrastructure bill includes NTSB's rail safety priorities."

The magazine highlighted that in addressing railroads, the safety priorities seeking substance abuse testing, local leaders receiving reports about dangerous materials moving through their towns from railroad companies and implementing safety recommendations resulting from investigations into the 2017 deadly Amtrax Cascades crash in Washington.