Summary

Safety is a top priority at the Transportation Department (DOT) and with good reason: in 1992 about 47,000 Americans were killed in transportation-related accidents. According to DOT, motor vehicle crashes in 1990 alone cost the United States upwards of $137 billion in lost income, property damage, medical, and other expenses. DOT relies on individual agencies, ranging from the Federal Aviation Administration to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as on the regulated industries, to ensure the safety of the nation's travelers. This testimony reviews some of the measures of safety often used to compare transportation modes, the limitations in making such safety comparisons, and the way that each mode and DOT assess safety.