Traffic Safety Initiatives: Evolving the Statewide Traffic Safety Culture in Illinois

Over the past several decades, the United States has made great strides in traffic safety. It has been a collaborative effort among federal and state governments, law enforcement, community leaders, automobile and parts manufacturers, researchers, and individuals. A great deal of time and effort has been invested in an attempt to make drivers, vehicles, and roadways safer. Auto manufacturers long have worked to design vehicles with enhanced safety features, such as auto braking and lane departure warnings, and now are poised to work under a U.S. Department of Transportation proposed rule that would mandate vehicle-to-vehicle communication, ultimately reducing collisions. In addition, engineers continue to work toward improving roadway infrastructure, and law enforcement, while managing shifting priorities, considers traffic safety as one of its core responsibilities.