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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced last week that the USDOT was getting serious about roadway safety. The department released its National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) last year in an attempt to push the country closer to zero traffic deaths. A year later, it issued a Call to Action to get specific commitments from organizations and companies throughout the country.

The USDOT’s announcement last year came after a few years in which the U.S. set unfortunate records for roadway fatalities. After a long trend of decreasing deaths on our roads, the NHTSA reported a dramatic increase in 2020. 2021 then went on to set a 16-year high for roadway deaths. While early estimates suggest the NRSS helped, thousands still died on U.S. roads in 2022.

That’s why, around the one-year anniversary of the NRSS, Buttigieg took to the podium once again. He called on every American to work together to help make our roads safer. With his goal of zero deaths on the roads, he’ll need everyone to cooperate.

Non-profits, businesses, and government agencies answer the call to action.

The USDOT was happy to announce that it had already received some specific pledges from a few organizations. A variety of government agencies, non-profits, and even private companies pledged varying levels of funding to help the DOT accomplish its goal. Here are just a few of the pledges it’s received already:

Safe Kids Worldwide

Safe Kids Worldwide is a non-profit organization that focuses on child safety in cars. Therefore, it’s unsurprising that its grant will focus on the kids. It will pay for the certification of Child Passenger Safety Technicians to help keep our youngest passengers safe in 2023.

Honda

Yes, Honda is one of many companies that is joining in the fight. Honda plans to provide grants to organizations focused on teen driver safety. Teen drivers tend to be among the most dangerous on the road, so Honda’s investment should help a vulnerable group of drivers.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)

The MoDOT pledged to expand its anti-phone use and pro-seat belt campaign, Buckle Up Phone Down. This is a program that focuses on driver education and outreach, aiming to prevent drivers from engaging in dangerous behaviors. The program has even expanded beyond Missouri in recent years.