WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, transportation industry leaders, safety advocates, and innovators launched the Modern Analytics for Roadway Safety (MARS), a new coalition to build smarter and safer roads across America. MARS is encouraging U.S. policymakers to empower state and local officials, planners, and law enforcement with these cutting-edge insights to optimize road and highway design and prioritize life-saving investments nationwide.
The United States continues to see nearly 40,000 roadway deaths every year. Traditional road safety and infrastructure investment efforts take a reactionary approach to these incidents. However, proven innovations like telematics, AI, and predictive analytics can identify prevalent driving risks and even predict accidents before they happen.
“We have the data and tools we need to build smarter and safer roads,” said Executive Director Andrew Rogers, who brings 20 years of law, policy, and technology experience specializing in transportation and infrastructure. “The next step is making sure those insights reach the front lines—state and local leaders who can use them to save lives in their communities.”
“Too often, we address roadway safety issues in a reactive manner, relying on outdated methods and measures where new and emerging technology has shown promise,” said Mark Chung, EVP for Safety, Leadership and Advocacy at the National Safety Council, a founding member of the MARS Coalition. “It is critical we work to be forward-thinking whenever we can, harnessing the power of new tools to guide our efforts to save lives. This coalition will make sure that we bring to bear the potential of telematics and other advances in our shared mission to end fatalities on our roadways.”
"Innovation and data are key to making our nation's roadway safety programs as efficient and effective as possible, with the ultimate goal of saving lives and preventing injuries,” said Jonathan Adkins, CEO of the Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA), a founding coalition member. “State and Territorial Highway Safety Offices across the country know first-hand the real-world benefits of new data sources and creative approaches to safety programs. GHSA is pleased to join the MARS coalition and looks forward to working together on policy solutions that will drive us toward zero deaths on our roads."
In addition to Rogers, MARS is led by former U.S. Department of Transportation executives and Congressional staff with decades of experience in writing, negotiating, and implementing transportation policy. As Congress begins work on the 2026 surface transportation reauthorization legislation, MARS has submitted policy positions to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as discussions begin on the nation’s next highway funding bill.
“The technology is there. The solutions are here,” Rogers continued. “Now, Congress must ensure that state and local decision-makers have the data, tools, and resources they need to make smarter transportation investments. This is our chance to modernize road safety–and save lives and taxpayer dollars in the process.”
On average, 42,000 lives are lost on U.S. roadways every year, with countless more experiencing life-altering injuries. There is also an economic impact – deaths from crashes in 2022 resulted in over $470 billion in total estimated costs.
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.
