Yakym, Carter introduce legislation to reduce roadside deaths

Legislation would require the Department of Transportation to collect, analyze, compile and publish accurate, detailed data on disabled roadside vehicle accidents and develop a strategic plan to stop them.

On Monday, Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) and Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02) introduced the bipartisan Preventing Roadside Deaths Act. This legislation would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to collect, analyze, compile and publish accurate, detailed data on disabled roadside vehicle accidents and develop a strategic plan to stop them.

“Injuries and deaths resulting from crashes involving disabled roadside vehicles are a tragic and largely preventable problem in our country,” Yakym said. “I am proud to partner with Congressman Carter on this commonsense, bipartisan legislation so we can help solve a very real issue that affects tens of thousands of people each year and advance a goal we both share: keeping our constituents and all Americans safe on the sides of our roads.”

Being stuck along America’s roadways is incredibly dangerous and a growing problem. Studies show that accidents involving disabled roadside vehicles are often underreported and likely kill or injure over 15,000 people in America annually.

“I’m proud to introduce this bill which addresses an urgent and preventable traffic safety crisis,” Carter said. “The tragic loss of three Southern University students in December 2022 is a stark reminder of the lethal dangers faced by anyone stranded along America’s roadways. No one should lose their life while performing something as routine as changing a tire or refueling their car. This legislation protects everyday road users and the professionals and first responders who risk their lives to keep our roads safe. It’s past time for comprehensive action to prevent these avoidable roadside deaths. I want to thank Congressman Yakym for his leadership on traffic safety issues, as well as Dr. Martinez and the coalition of traffic safety experts who helped craft this legislation.”

“Implementing a Safe System Approach to eliminate serious traffic injuries and fatalities requires policy solutions inclusive of all road users, especially vulnerable road users,” said Mark Chung, executive vice president of Safety Leadership and Advocacy for the National Safety Council. “Vulnerable road user deaths remain troubling even as overall motor vehicles fatalities decline. The National Safety Council believes the Preventing Roadside Deaths Act takes a vital step forward in addressing the crisis on our roads by bringing government stakeholders together to align data and better implement the National Roadway Safety Strategy.”

“Urban League of Louisiana applauds the steadfast efforts of Congressman Carter to author bills that elevate the lived experiences of disinvested communities and which champion tangible outcomes for Louisianans and Americans,” Urban League of Louisiana President and CEO Judy Reese Morse. “The Preventing Roadside Death Act is the most recent example of Congressman Carter seeking to use data as a critical tool in crafting a strategic plan to make Americans safer while commuting. This bill is smart, timely, and addresses a less-known threat to Americans making less than the US median income and Black motorist.”

“A motorist repairing a flat tire, a first responder aiding people after a crash, a police officer stopping an impaired driver, and a construction worker repairing a roadway all have one thing in common. They are vulnerable to being struck and killed or injured by passing motor vehicles, a common occurrence that affects 72,000 people every year. We are proud to support the Preventing Roadside Deaths Act, sponsored by Rep. Troy Carter, Sr. (D-LA) and Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN) that directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create a national strategy to address this deadly problem because all road users should be protected on all parts of our roadways,” Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety President Cathy Chase said.

“The sharp increase in traffic fatalities in the last few years is a public health threat that must be met head-on. AAA believes the Preventing Roadside Deaths Act is a good first step in that direction and looks forward to working with Congressman Carter, Congressman Yakym, and safety stakeholders to improve safety for anyone stranded or working at the roadside,” said AAA President and CEO Gene Boehm.

“I know all too well the tragedies that can strike families with a disabled roadside vehicle, and I appreciate Congressman Carter’s ‘Preventing Roadside Deaths Act,” said MADD National Ambassador Michelle Ramsey. “My 4-year-old son Samuel and 6-year-old son Khaiden were killed by a drunk driver who plowed through safety triangles, struck a car that then struck me, then ran off the road and slammed into my sons, my daughter Kaylee and a teenage neighbor who had come outside to help us. Two beautiful lives were stolen on the side of the road that night and three others will never be the same.”

“Every few minutes, healthy Americans are killed or injured in these incidents, and the numbers are rising. People in and around disabled vehicles are sitting ducks, especially on high-speed roads. It’s time to address this deadly issue and implement effective solutions,” said Dr. Ricardo Martinez, former NHTSA administrator and emergency physician.

This bill is endorsed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), American Automobile Association (AAA), National Safety Council, Urban League of Louisiana, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, American Association of State Troopers, and Major County Sheriffs of America.

According to peer-reviewed research:

• Every 7 minutes a disabled vehicle is struck by an oncoming driver
• Approximately 72,000 people are affected annually, with over 15,000 people injured or killed
• Nearly 80% of victims of these accidents are from households that are under the U.S. median income, and Black motorists are twice as likely to die in a disabled vehicle crash than the rest of the U.S. population.
• The frequency of “unintended” pedestrians and “Good Samaritans” killed while attending to disabled vehicles has increased by 27% since 2014.

This data is incomplete and most likely under-reported due to inconsistent data capture at the local and state level. The problem grows as roads become more congested, average speeds increase and drivers are exposed to more distractions.

The Preventing Roadside Deaths Act will increase awareness of the scope and causes of this problem so that effective preventative countermeasures can can be implemented. The bill:

• Improves reporting and accountability by requiring the Secretary of Transportation to collect, analyze and publish detailed data on Disabled Roadside Vehicle Crashes, and encourage local uniform data collection and sharing
• Creates a strategic plan from a working group convened by the Department of Transportation and relevant stakeholder groups to combat this issue
• Uses existing federal funding and authorization by utilizing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (the current Surface Transportation Act), where authorities and funding is already available for states and cities to provide the necessary data and implement programs to prevent these accidents.

Read a one-page summary of the bill here.

Read the full text of the bill here.