Welcome to the Fast Lane: The Official Blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

The 4th of July is a day of celebration—a time to enjoy good food with good friends, and to remember our nation’s history.  And while some may take the occasion to indulge in alcoholic beverages, the 4th of July, like every other day, is a not day to drink and drive.

So today I visited Charleston, South Carolina with a critical message:  if you’ve had a drink, don’t get behind the wheel.

Police Chief Mullen and the Charleston Police Department demonstrated a DUI arrest, and I can tell you that one look at the booking process should be enough to stop anyone from even thinking about drinking and driving.  But unfortunately, not enough people understand the consequences of drinking and driving.  Drunk driving is the leading cause of traffic-related fatalities nationwide, killing 13,000 people in 2006. 

In South Carolina, the DUI numbers are even more sobering:   over 1,000 people died on state roads, and 420 fatalities were alcohol related—almost half of the total deaths.   Indeed, the alcohol-related fatality rate in South Carolina is nearly twice the national average. 

South Carolina law enforcement and state officials know this is simply too many deaths—and they’re doing something about it.  Governor Sanford made DUI-reform a top legislative priority.  Earlier this year, the state took an important step by increasing penalties for repeat offenders, eliminating loopholes for defendants, and implementing a tiered-penalty system so the most impaired are punished most severely.

Here in Charleston, Chief Mullen and his team are working hard to reduce drunk driving incidences every day—not just on holidays.  Their efforts include dedicating two squads for daily traffic enforcement, taking an active role in the MADD campaign, offering an education program for teen collision avoidance, and having three to four safety checkpoints a week. 

At the Department of Transportation, we’re working to reduce alcohol-related accidents and fatalities through enforcement and awareness.  We invest $40 million dollars a year to help local law enforcement run check points, and sponsor a national advertising campaign to alert motorists to the increased enforcement. 

This fall, we will conduct a national law enforcement crackdown to correspond with the Labor Day weekend.  And our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is conducting a pilot program in New Mexico to determine the most effective methods we can employ to reduce impaired driving across the nation. 

The commitment of law enforcement and federal and state officials is critical, but it’s only half the battle.  Ultimately, responsibility begins and ends with the drivers. 

It’s up to you to make the right decision each and every time you drink away from home.  Take a cab, or find a designated driver.  That simple decision will save lives.

And this weekend, whether you’re celebrating the 4th of July at a restaurant, bar, or your best friend’s back yard barbeque, my message is simple: don’t drink and drive.  Losing your freedom is no way to celebrate our independence, and I’d hate to see the 4th of July become a day of tragedy on our roads.

Please drink responsibly, and have a happy and safe Independence Day!

-Secretary Peters

Deputy Secretary Barrett: University of Minnesota Working to Make Rural Roads Safer

Today I visited the Center for Excellence in Rural Safety at the Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.  There, I saw first-hand the exciting research they are doing to make our roads safer, and announced that the University will be home to a national clearinghouse for information about the best way to make our rural roads safer. 

Over the past decades, we have made great progress in improving safety and reducing deaths nationally—but rural roads are still some of our most dangerous.  Even though rural roads carry less than half of America’s traffic,   they are home to over half of the nation’s vehicular deaths. 

That is why Secretary Peters asked me to lead the Department’s Rural Safety Initiative—a national strategy to improve rural safety by bringing new focus, including resources and new technology, to a growing safety problem.

RITA Administrator Brubaker: San Francisco Poised to Revolutionize Future Transportation Systems

Today, I have some truly exciting news! I am in San Francisco, where I was joined by Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) officials in announcing that the city has been chosen as the first test site for SafeTrip-21.  SafeTrip-21 is a U.S. DOT initiative to reduce traffic-related fatalities and injuries, fight congestion on America’s roadways and improve the performance of the nation's transportation system.

The Department and its partners are investing $12.4 million dollars into using cutting edge Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology and innovations to improve safety and mobility in the San Francisco Bay Area.  This initiative represents the largest multi-modal test of ITS technologies in the world!

So, what does this mean for the everyday commuters in San Francisco?  SafeTrip-21 will greatly enhance their driving experience, and offer unprecedented situational awareness to the traveling public.

Taking the Transportation Revolution to the States

This morning, I met with top policy, transportation, and finance advisors from 38 different states.  They were in Washington for a two-day seminar on transportation funding and financing that the Department of Transportation organized in conjunction with the National Governors’ Association Center for Best Practices.   

Most people haven’t yet fully grasped the unprecedented innovation taking place in transportation today.  Our states have been leading a quiet revolution in transportation financing and the way we build, maintain, and operate our infrastructure.  Instead of raising taxes or waiting for the federal ship to bring boatloads of new funding, innovative Governors are finding willing partners in the private sector.

Some are leasing existing facilities or “brownfield assets” like the Indiana Toll Road.  Governor Mitch Daniels bold move brought in $3.85 billion to fund the capital projects in the state’s Major Moves program.  Moreover, the private concern, Cintra, now has responsibility for upkeep of the 157-mile road, which was in need of costly maintenance and repairs.   

Acting Administrator Sturgell: FAA MOVES TO REDUCE DELAYS AT O’HARE

You’re at the airport with your family on your way to your vacation destination.  Or you’re a business traveler flying across the country for an important business meeting.  The last thing you want to deal with is an unexpected, lengthy delay.

Most times, delays result from bad weather patterns.  However, there are proactive steps that can be taken to reduce delays.  I’m pleased to tell you that the FAA is doing just that.

Earlier this week, I joined Chicago Mayor Richard Daley to announce the elimination of flight caps at O’Hare.   In 2004, we capped O’Hare arrivals at 88 during most hours of the day.  Since that time, both the FAA and the City of Chicago have worked to add capacity to the airport.   We have extended an existing runway, and constructed a new runway that will open in November.  Together, these will allow for an additional 4-5 arrivals per hour at O’Hare.  That may not sound like a lot, but this small number will go a long way towards reducing delays by giving us much-needed additional capacity to accommodate the small increase in flights.