Looking Forward

America needs a seamless, multi-modal transportation system, a system of tightly-linked roads, bridges, transit systems, freight rail, airports and seaports―a continuously flowing, 24/7 system. Although there have been constructive strides made in the areas of HOV/HOT lanes, GPS navigation, intelligent highway design and other technical advances, the nation’s highway system has been starved of funds for decades and remains remarkably antiquated for a world super-power.

Clogged and out of date, there is nothing “open” about today’s roads or transit systems for millions of commuters every day. The freight railroads, airports and seaports that move people and goods to and from global destinations are similarly clogged and inefficient when compared to other world facilities. Today, not only is our transportation system an impediment to our quality of life, but also to environmental quality and our competitiveness as a nation in the global marketplace.

Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech.

We cannot continue to simply address the most pressing needs of our transportation infrastructure with a series of “quick fixes.” It is time for our nation to re-evaluate our investment, with an eye toward the future. The transportation system for the 21st century must provide:

Connectivity

America’s network of roads, bridges and transit systems connect people to people and business to business every day. As our nation continues to expand and improve this essential infrastructure, we must ensure that all components of the transportation system not only function well individually, but also improve connectivity by increasing the number of routes, options, intersections and modes available, contributing to a more robust, accessible and resilient system.

Safety

Further progress on traffic safety is going to take all the “tools” in the traffic safety toolbox, plus some new thinking about best approaches. A transportation system built for the 21st century and beyond will offer the American public equal access to the system regardless of socioeconomic status; options to remain mobile when driving is no longer possible; and strategies for motorists to become better educated about safe driving behaviors and practices.

Among the most significant challenges going forward will be to change our culture of complacency as it relates to lives lost on our roadways. We envision a transportation system that makes safety a top priority – consistently working toward zero fatalities.

A comprehensive approach to safety will include solutions that address the road, the vehicle and the driver. We need five-star drivers, operating five-star vehicles, traveling on five-star roads. Drivers should be well trained. They should obey posted speed limits, wear their safety belts and avoid driving when intoxicated, fatigued or distracted. Passenger vehicles should be safe. They should have strong safety features that protect occupants from serious physical harm in the event of a crash. Roads should be designed with safety in mind. They should be engineered to minimize the probability of motor vehicle crashes; and if a crash occurs, the risk of serious injury or death should be low.

Isolated actions and strategies will not successfully change the traffic safety culture in America. Rather, it will take new “systems-level” approaches to enhance public support for a social climate in which traffic safety is highly valued and rigorously pursued.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is doing important work in this area. As a research foundation dedicated to saving lives and reducing injuries on the roads, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has funded more than 170 research projects designed to discover the causes of traffic crashes, prevent them and minimize injuries when they do occur. Two important Foundation projects we hope will have profound impacts on transportation safety in the future include the United States Road Assessment Program, or usRAP, which provides a new approach to organizing highway safety information to help highway agencies more effectively manage road safety, and a long-term project to better understand and address safety culture in the U.S.

Learn more about these important projects here:

United States Road Assessment Program (usRAP)

Improving Traffic Safety Culture in the United States: The Journey Forward

Mobility

Americans today enjoy extensive mobility (movement of people and goods) and unprecedented access (the ability for people to reach desired goods, services, activities and destinations). However, crumbling infrastructure, traffic bottlenecks and safety challenges threaten our mobility and access. While the ways in which we provide mobility and access may evolve over time, our economy and way of life depend on them and must be maintained.

National Security

A safe, efficient and well-funded transportation system is critical to America’s national security and continued economic vitality. America’s roads, bridges and transit systems connect the fields of the heartland to the supermarket shelves, transport workers to their jobs each day, transport a variety of dangerous substances and function as evacuation routes during natural disasters. However, transportation facilities are vulnerable and must be maintained, improved and safeguarded to assure that they provide safe, reliable transportation on a daily basis and fulfill critical national security functions when needed.

Alternatives

One of the keys to improving transportation in America will be providing alternatives so that individuals and businesses can choose between many solutions to transportation challenges. Even though a majority of individuals drive alone for most of their transportation needs, they can be encouraged to utilize other means, including transit, carpooling, telecommuting, trip rescheduling and walking, at least for a small percentage of the time. Businesses may be able to reschedule deliveries, business hours or work shifts to reduce the impact on peak traffic. Providing and encouraging the voluntary use of alternatives to driving, without mandating change that does not meet individual needs, will be one of the most important challenges for the 21st century.