WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) maps its strategic research and development priorities for the next five years and beyond, the Modern Analytics for Roadway Safety (MARS) Coalition is advocating for DOT to “lead a generational shift” that accelerates the adoption of modern analytics, telematics, and AI-based tools, and reimagines America’s fundamental approach to roadway safety decisions for the 21st century.
The U.S. experiences approximately 40,000 roadway fatalities annually. Today’s predominant transportation safety improvements rely heavily on reactive, retrospective crash data to identify problems – and potential solutions – after injuries or fatalities have occurred.
In public comments submitted to DOT’s Request for Information for its forthcoming Research, Development, and Technology (RD&T) Strategic Plan for 2026-2030 and beyond, MARS encouraged DOT to prioritize research that would empower agencies to keep pace with rapid innovation in the transportation sector and enable a shift toward proactive safety strategies.
“The MARS Coalition welcomes DOT’s commitment to rethinking America’s roadway safety strategy, including through R&D. AI, predictive analytics, and telematics are proven tools already transforming how many transportation agencies understand safety risk, evaluate road user behaviors, and optimize safety investments. We should give more transportation leaders the funding, resources, and flexibility they need to make smarter decisions for their communities,” MARS Coalition Executive Director Andrew Rogers said. “As these modern safety technologies mature and scale, DOT should use all the tools at its disposal to encourage widespread adoption and encourage smarter, data-driven approaches across America’s transportation systems.”
Today, several states and cities are leveraging telematics and AI-enabled analytics to identify emerging risk patterns––such as speeding, harsh braking, and other high-risk driver behaviors that cause near-miss events––as well as to improve operational efficiency. In its submission to DOT’s RFI, MARS describes how these technologies can enable more transportation planners to design safer infrastructure, rather than reacting and responding to safety challenges after crashes occur.
Read the MARS Coalition’s public submission to DOT’s RFI here.
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.
