WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Modern Analytics for Roadway Safety (MARS) Coalition applauds the bipartisan, bicameral introduction of the Roadway Safety Modernization Act (H.R. 6874; S. 3572) by U.S. Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Reps. Tracey Mann (R-Kan.) and Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), groundbreaking legislation that will help states and communities leverage proven technologies and data-driven tools to predict roadway risks, prevent crashes, and protect lives.
The MARS Coalition welcomes this leadership to bring America’s roadway safety programs into the modern era—shifting the nation’s road safety strategy from a reactive to a proactive approach, while empowering state and local transportation agencies to design safer, smarter infrastructure that fits the needs of their communities.
“America can no longer afford a crash-first, fix later approach to roadway safety. The bipartisan Roadway Safety Modernization Act finally aligns our federal programs with the technologies that are already saving lives in the field,” said Andrew Rogers, Executive Director of the MARS Coalition. “Reps. Mann and Davids, and Sens. Boozman and Padilla have shown real leadership by advancing a forward-looking, data-driven framework for roadway safety. This legislation will help every state and community direct their safety dollars with greater precision – preventing more crashes, improving mobility, and better protecting the millions of Americans who rely on our roads every day.”
The U.S. continues to see approximately 40,000 roadway fatalities each year, with countless more experiencing life-altering injuries. In 2022 alone, traffic crashes resulted in over $470 billion in economic losses nationwide. Traditional infrastructure investment efforts often rely on outdated or incomplete data, identifying safety risks only after tragedies occur.
The Roadway Safety Modernization Act shifts toward proactive prevention. By updating our federal transportation infrastructure programs, this legislation enables states and communities to integrate AI, predictive analytics, telematics, and other related technologies into their road safety strategies. These tools provide more accurate and timely feedback on prevalent, emerging, and potential roadway risks, enabling more targeted, cost-effective safety investments with measurable results.
About Modern Analytics for Roadway Safety (MARS) Coalition
Modern Analytics for Roadway Safety (MARS) is a coalition of industry leaders, safety advocates, and technology innovators focused on leveraging cutting-edge technology to prevent crashes before they occur. By utilizing telematics, artificial intelligence, and predictive analytics, MARS empowers policymakers to implement solutions that curb dangerous driving behaviors, optimize infrastructure design, and save lives.
