We at DOT must work harder than ever before to give the American people what they need when it comes to transportation, and the most important thing they are counting on us to deliver is safety.

From day one until today, and on into the future, the pursuit of improved transportation safety has been and will remain the Department of Transportation's top priority. 

For example, in the Department's earliest years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) developed an antihijacking screening system and Congress expanded the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) safety oversight authority to include track maintenance and equipment standards.  In the decades since then, we have advanced countless measures to increase safety in every mode of transportation. Most recently, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) began vigorous oversight of public transit safety, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has continued its efforts to educate drivers about the dangers of impaired driving, distraction, and heatstroke.

From the Office of the Secretary to our nine Operating Administrations, you can learn more about current safety efforts below.

• The Mayors' Challenge for Safer People, Safer Streets encourages city leaders to raise the bar for bicyclist and pedestrian safety by joining a year-long effort in which Mayors and other elected city officials lead a call to action and form local action teams that take on one or more Challenge activities.
• SaferCar.gov is a consumer-oriented website operated by NHTSA and featuring valuable information on vehicle safety ratings, recalls, child safety seats, tire safety, and more.
• Look Before You Book is the consumer-facing home of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's motorcoach safety program where travelers can research bus and driver safety data on passenger carriers before booking motorcoach travel.
• Safe Transportation of Energy Products, or STEP, is the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration program to enhance the safe transport of crude oil by rail through safety alerts, regulations, proper classification of energy products, improvements to rail operations and equipment, minimizing risks, improving tank car survivability, emergency response training and information, and scientific research.
• Railroad Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention is the FRA's program to reduce the number of deaths at America's more than 212,000 highway-rail grade crossings, where a public highway, road, street, or private roadway, including associated sidewalks, and pathways, crosses railroad tracks at the same level as the street.