Our Objective(s)To evaluate DOT Operating Administrations' implementation of National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) priority actions, monitoring of progress, and measurement of success. Specifically, we assessed DOT's (1) identification and implementation of NRSS priority actions and (2) procedures for monitoring progress and measuring success of those priority actions.
Why This AuditDOT set a long-term goal of reaching zero roadway fatalities through its NRSS. The NRSS emphasized a multifaceted approach to safety improvements and a collaborative effort between the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST) and relevant surface transportation Operating Administrations. We initiated this audit due to DOT's new and comprehensive approach towards traffic safety and its goal for the NRSS to help decrease fatalities.
What We FoundDOT identified and implemented priority actions that aligned with high-risk factors to decrease fatalities.
DOT identified 29 NRSS priority actions in 2022 and added 14 actions in 2023. These 43 actions targeted high-risk factors contributing to traffic fatalities, including occupant protection, alcohol-impaired driving, speeding, pedestrian safety, and motor carrier safety.
As of January 2025, DOT reported that it had completed 38 priority actions and 5 were still in progress.
DOT monitored NRSS priority actions and measured overall impact but lacked procedures to measure success of individual actions.
DOT monitored the progress of individual priority actions and measured the overall impact of the NRSS. In January 2025, the Department attributed 10 consecutive quarters of declines in traffic fatalities to the progress in implementing NRSS priority actions.
However, the NRSS Action Team had not established requirements or procedures to measure the success of individual priority actions.
DOT officials stated they would evaluate an action's success by monitoring improvements in long-term safety data, which would be difficult to attribute to any specific priority action. As a result, it is unclear how individual priority actions contributed to DOT's progress towards achieving goals to decrease fatalities.
RecommendationsWe made 1 recommendation to improve DOT's administration of the NRSS.
