Bill Summary
The "Preventing Roadside and Work Zone Deaths Act of 2026" aims to enhance safety measures for roadside and work zone incidents involving vehicles. It amends existing highway safety laws by expanding definitions to include occupants and pedestrians associated with disabled vehicles, thereby broadening protections.
Key components of the legislation include:
1. **Highway Safety Improvement Program Modifications**: Updates definitions in the law to better safeguard vulnerable road users, including those in disabled vehicles.
2. **Injury and Fatality Data**: Requires the inclusion of data on roadside and work zone fatalities in health reports to improve awareness and response strategies.
3. **Public Awareness Campaigns**: Promotes awareness of laws requiring motorists to slow down or move over for not only emergency vehicles but also disabled vehicles and workers in work zones.
4. **Working Groups**: Establishes two working groups — one focused on disabled vehicle crashes and the other on work zone safety. These groups will analyze data, develop strategic plans, and improve data sharing with relevant authorities to address safety issues.
5. **Annual Reporting**: Mandates the Federal Highway Administration to report on the use and effectiveness of work zone safety funds, ensuring transparency and suggesting improvements for funding utilization.
Overall, the legislation seeks to reduce deaths and injuries related to roadside incidents and improve safety protocols in work zones through data-driven strategies and enhanced public awareness.
Possible Impacts
The "Preventing Roadside and Work Zone Deaths Act of 2026" could have several effects on people, including the following:
1. **Enhanced Safety for Disabled Vehicle Occupants and Road Workers**: By explicitly including "occupants of and pedestrians associated with disabled vehicles" in the legislation, the Act aims to raise awareness and improve safety measures for individuals who are often vulnerable on the roadside. This could lead to more robust traffic laws, signage, and enforcement measures designed to protect these individuals, potentially reducing injuries and fatalities in roadside incidents.
2. **Improved Data Collection and Analysis**: The establishment of working groups to collect, analyze, and publish data on roadside and work zone crashes could result in more informed decision-making regarding traffic safety policies. This improved data collection can help identify high-risk areas and circumstances, ultimately leading to targeted interventions and strategies that enhance road safety for all users, including pedestrians, motorists, and construction workers.
3. **Increased Public Awareness and Compliance with Move Over Laws**: The amendment to increase public awareness about "Move Over or Slow Down" laws, particularly in relation to disabled vehicles and work zones, could lead to greater compliance among motorists. Increased education and awareness campaigns may foster a culture of safer driving practices, thereby reducing the likelihood of accidents in these high-risk areas and protecting both workers and the general public.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3871 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3871
To amend title 23, United States Code, and the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act with respect to vehicle roadside crashes and
work zone safety, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 12, 2026
Mr. Blumenthal (for himself and Mrs. Fischer) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, and the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act with respect to vehicle roadside crashes and
work zone safety, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing Roadside and Work Zone
Deaths Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. VEHICLE AND WORK ZONE ROADSIDE ACCIDENTS.
(a) Highway Safety Improvement Program.--Section 148(c)(2) of title
23, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)(vi), by striking ``and
pedestrians,'' and inserting ``pedestrians, and occupants of
and pedestrians associated with disabled vehicles'';
(2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by inserting ``, and occupants
of and pedestrians associated with disabled vehicles'' after
``pedestrians''; and
(3) in subparagraph (D)(vi), by striking ``and
pedestrians'' and inserting ``pedestrians, and occupants of and
pedestrians associated with disabled vehicles''.
(b) Injury Health Data.--Section 24108(c)(2) of the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 405 note; Public Law 117-58) is
amended by inserting ``, including roadside deaths and work zone
deaths'' after ``fatalities''.
(c) Review of Move Over or Slow Down Law Public Awareness.--Section
24109(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-
58; 135 Stat. 809) is amended by inserting ``or motorist, disabled
vehicle, worker, vehicle, or machinery in a work zone'' after
``authorized emergency vehicle''.
(d) Disabled Vehicle Crash Working Group.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation, in
conjunction with the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration and other relevant agencies, shall convene a
working group of industry and other nongovernment entities,
including representatives of high-risk communities, high
traffic risk professions, such as truckers, traffic incident
responders, and first responders, and other relevant
stakeholders, including State and local highway safety experts,
insurers, medical and public health experts, law enforcement
and other first responders, and technology and automobile
manufacturers.
(2) Duties.--The working group convened under paragraph (1)
shall collect, analyze, compile, and publish accurate, detailed
data on disabled roadside vehicle crashes, along with a
strategic plan to identify and implement solutions for fatal
and non-fatal injury crashes, adoption of better data sharing
with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
including local adoption of the Model Minimum Uniform Crash
Criteria, and annual updates on awareness and intervention
activities and results.
(e) Work Zone Crash Working Group.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation, in
conjunction with the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, Federal Highway Administration, and other
relevant agencies, shall convene a working group of industry
and other nongovernment entities, including contractors,
pavers, engineers, construction labor unions, traffic safety
industry professionals, State transportation officials, and
others in the road building community.
(2) Duties.--The working group convened under paragraph (1)
shall collect, analyze, compile, and publish accurate, detailed
data on work zone crashes, along with a strategic plan to
identify and implement solutions for fatal and non-fatal injury
crashes, increased use and effectiveness of work zone safety
contingency funds, adoption of better data sharing with the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including local
adoption of the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria, and
annual updates on awareness and intervention activities and
results.
(f) Review of Use and Effectiveness of Work Zone Safety Contingency
Funds.--The Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration shall
submit to Congress an annual report on the use and effectiveness of
work zone safety contingency funds described in section
120(c)(3)(B)(vi) of title 23, United States Code, that includes the
following:
(1) How many and which States have utilized the authority
to use such funds.
(2) How much funding each State dedicated to such funds.
(3) Any other pertinent information about such funds and
recommendations to improve the use of such funds nationwide.
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