Michigan DOT Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) September 18, 2018

September 18, 2018 – 32 people died on Michigan roadways since last week making a total of 697 this year.  In addition, 149 more were seriously injured for a statewide total of 3,836 to date.  

Compared to last year at this time there are 32 fewer fatalities and 319 fewer serious injuries.  

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National Roundabouts Week is September 17-21, 2018

Contact: Neil Gaffney, Federal Highway Administration, neil.gaffney@dot.gov

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) kicked off the first National Roundabouts Week on September 17, 2018. When it comes to making travel through intersections safer, the modern roundabouts being built by state, local and tribal agencies are true lifesavers.

In fact, roundabouts reduce the types of crashes where people are seriously hurt or killed by about 80% when compared to conventional stop-controlled and signalized intersections, according to the AASHTO Highway Safety Manual. This is a huge benefit, considering that thousands of people are killed in crashes related to intersections every year. It’s reassuring to know there are now over 4,000 modern roundabouts across the country, and the number is growing.

This is why FHWA is launching “National Roundabouts Week,” a campaign to conduct education, outreach and awareness to the U.S. traveling public about roundabouts in order to support state and local efforts to build these safer intersections. National Roundabouts Week begins today and runs through Friday, September 21.  Our National Roundabouts Week web page can be found at https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/NRW/.

Earlier this summer, the Department published its updated Strategic Plan, stating safety is our top priority. Similarly, last month, FHWA released its new Strategic Plan, recognizing safety as our top agency goal. Roundabouts can help us achieve our shared goal of reducing fatalities and serious injuries across the transportation system, and a week designated to recognizing and promoting this proven safety countermeasure will go a long way toward making travel through intersections safer.

I invite you to join the Office of Safety in supporting this important safety initiative, and by extension, the efforts of our State and Local governments. For Division Offices, please share this information with them. Some States are taking an active role this week to promote roundabouts.  For technical information, contact Jeff Shaw (Office of Safety) at Jeffrey.Shaw@dot.gov and for any media-related inquiries, contact Neil Gaffney (Office of Public Affairs) at Neil.Gaffney@dot.gov.