U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has initiated a national roadway safety program to enhance mobility and safety on roads across the country. In a communication to all governors, Duffy urged state participation in the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Safe Arterials for Everyone through Reliable Operations and Distraction-Reducing Strategies—SAFE ROADS—initiative. This program focuses on non-freeway arterial roads, which account for more than half of U.S. roadway fatalities.
In his letter, Secretary Duffy emphasized the importance of keeping intersections and crosswalks free from distractions such as political messages or artwork, which can detract from driver and pedestrian safety. "Roads are for safety, not political messages or artwork," he stated. "Far too many Americans die each year to traffic fatalities to take our eye off the ball."
Governors have been given 60 days to instruct their transportation departments to collaborate with metropolitan partners in identifying arterial segments with potential or documented safety concerns. These segments must be reported to the FHWA.
The goals of the SAFE ROADS initiative include making data-driven decisions, empowering local governments to improve road environments, and enhancing road safety for pedestrians, drivers, and automated vehicles.
The FHWA will support states by tracking progress, providing technical expertise and resources like road safety audits, selecting effective countermeasures for improvements, and ensuring compliance with federal standards.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over half of all U.S. roadway fatalities in 2023 occurred on non-freeway arterials, with nearly two-thirds involving pedestrians.
This initiative follows a previous letter from Secretary Duffy dated March 6, 2025, calling for transportation system improvements in Washington, D.C.
