SAFE ROADS Initiative
On July 1, 2025, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy launched a nationwide roadway safety initiative to prioritize investments that improve mobility and safety on roadways. In a letter to every governor, Secretary Duffy asked that their State participate in the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Safe Arterials for Everyone through Reliable Operations and Distraction-Reducing Strategies—SAFE ROADS—initiative. The effort targets non-freeway arterial roads, which is where more than half of U.S. roadway deaths occur.
In 2023, over half of all the roadway fatalities in the U.S. occurred on non-freeway/expressway arterials (functionally classified as ‘other principal arterial’ or ‘minor arterial’), based on data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nearly two-thirds of pedestrian fatalities occurred on non-freeway/expressway arterials. FHWA provides information on pedestrian safety, intersection safety, arterial management operations strategies, proven safety countermeasures, and traffic control devices to address common safety and mobility challenges.
Documents
- Letter to Governors: Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Urges Governors to Join National Initiative to Make Streets Safer, More Efficient (July 1, 2025)
- Press Release: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy to Governors: Roads are for Safety, Not Politics (July 1, 2025)
- SAFE ROADS FAQ: Addresses FAQs related to the SAFE ROADS initiative. (August 20, 2025)
- Press Release: Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Secures Nationwide Support for Life-Saving SAFE ROADS Initiative (November 14, 2025)
- Brief descriptions of State DOT SAFE ROADS submissions (November 14, 2025)
Resources