Dive Brief:
- Two legislators are sponsoring a move to create a Department of Transportation position that advocates for crash victims and their families.
- U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, of Tennessee, and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján, of New Mexico, introduced the measure in their respective chambers of Congress earlier this month. Cohen’s version advanced to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 10.
- “Traffic accident victims and their families deserve an advocate in the Department of Transportation listening to their ideas for improving roadway safety, especially after suffering from a traffic crash,” Cohen said in a news release.
Dive Insight:
Marianne Karth, who lost two of her children in a tragic crash a decade ago, has considered the need for a position like this for eight years, and she discussed the recent measure with Luján for two years.
“Far too many families know the pain of losing a loved one to a traffic crash,” Luján said in the release.
The national roadway safety advocate would provide a point of contact at the DOT for victims and their families as well as a more permanent voice in the department’s decision-making, per the news release.
The advocate would document and communicate recommendations from stakeholders to the DOT secretary on needs, objectives, plans, approaches and more, according to the bill.
Safety organizations have voiced their support of the measure, such as Karth’s organization, AnnaLeah & Mary for Truck Safety, along with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the National Safety Council, the Truck Safety Coalition and the Institute for Safer Trucking.
“It’s time to give vulnerable victims of vehicle violence a vigilant voice at the table,” Karth said on her website, adding that safety advocates deserve meaningful change in a timely manner.
