Preventing Roadside and Work Zone Deaths Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 3871
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-27T19:51:54Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Preventing Roadside and Work Zone Deaths Act of 2026 aims to enhance road safety by addressing crashes involving disabled vehicles on the roadside and accidents in highway work zones. It expands existing federal programs to include these risks, promotes better data collection and sharing, and establishes working groups to develop solutions for reducing fatalities and injuries.
Key Provisions
- Amendments to Highway Safety Improvement Program (Title 23, U.S. Code): Updates the program's criteria to explicitly include "occupants of and pedestrians associated with disabled vehicles" (vehicles that have broken down) alongside pedestrians in funding eligibility for safety projects.
- Updates to Injury and Fatality Data Collection (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act): Requires the inclusion of roadside deaths and work zone deaths in national health data reporting on traffic fatalities.
- Expansion of Public Awareness Campaigns: Broadens reviews of "Move Over or Slow Down" laws (which require drivers to slow down or change lanes when passing emergency vehicles) to cover motorists, disabled vehicles, workers, vehicles, or machinery in work zones.
- Disabled Vehicle Crash Working Group: The Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other agencies, must form a group including industry representatives, high-risk communities (e.g., truck drivers, traffic responders, first responders), state and local experts, insurers, medical professionals, law enforcement, and vehicle manufacturers. The group's duties include collecting and analyzing data on crashes involving disabled vehicles, creating a strategic plan for preventing injuries and fatalities, improving data sharing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) using standardized crash reporting criteria, and providing annual updates on awareness and intervention efforts.
- Work Zone Crash Working Group: Similar to the disabled vehicle group, this involves the Secretary of Transportation, OSHA, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and others forming a group with contractors, engineers, construction unions, traffic safety professionals, and state officials. Duties focus on work zone crash data, strategic plans for safety improvements, better use of work zone safety funds, data sharing with NHTSA, and annual progress reports.
- Annual Reporting on Work Zone Safety Funds: The FHWA Administrator must submit yearly reports to Congress on the use of federal contingency funds for work zone safety (under Title 23, U.S. Code), detailing participating states, funding amounts allocated, and recommendations for nationwide improvements.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the scope of the Highway Safety Improvement Program to cover risks from disabled vehicles, which were not previously highlighted, potentially increasing federal funding for related safety measures.
- Adds specific tracking of roadside and work zone deaths to broader injury data requirements under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, filling gaps in fatality reporting.
- Widens the focus of public awareness efforts for "Move Over" laws beyond just emergency vehicles to include work zones and disabled vehicles, promoting more comprehensive driver education.
- Introduces new mandatory working groups and annual reporting requirements, which did not exist before, to foster collaboration and data-driven strategies rather than relying solely on existing agency efforts.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for the Department of Transportation (DOT), FHWA, NHTSA, and OSHA in convening groups, collecting data, and reporting to Congress, but could lead to more effective use of federal highway funds and improved safety outcomes.
- Citizens: Enhances road safety for drivers, pedestrians, and vehicle occupants by addressing overlooked crash types, potentially reducing injuries and deaths through better awareness, data, and interventions; may indirectly raise awareness of safe driving practices near work zones and breakdowns.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. highway safety.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: DOT, FHWA, NHTSA, and OSHA, which must lead working groups and data efforts.
- State and Local Governments: Transportation officials and highway safety experts, who benefit from expanded funding and data sharing but may need to adopt uniform crash reporting standards.
- Industry and Workers: Truck drivers, construction contractors, engineers, labor unions, traffic responders, first responders, insurers, medical professionals, and vehicle manufacturers, who participate in working groups and could see safer work environments.
- Citizens and Communities: Drivers, pedestrians, occupants of disabled vehicles, and high-risk groups (e.g., in high-traffic areas), who gain from reduced crash risks; high-risk communities may have more inclusive input on safety solutions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal oversight of highway safety by mandating data collection and collaboration, potentially leading to more consistent state-level implementation of safety standards without overriding state authority. No new enforcement powers are created, but it promotes voluntary adoption of model crash criteria.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause to regulate interstate highways; no apparent conflicts with states' rights or individual liberties, as changes focus on funding, education, and planning rather than mandates.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (by Senators Blumenthal and Fischer) signals broad support for infrastructure safety; could influence future funding debates in transportation bills by highlighting underreported crash types and emphasizing data-driven policy, potentially pressuring states to utilize safety funds more effectively.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2026-02-12: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Preventing Roadside and Work Zone Deaths Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-12 — PDF (5 pages)