Thread by @DavidZipper

I'm at @USDOT's #TRBAM session re: roadway safety.

I'll give USDOT credit: They start by showing per capita roadway death rates for other countries, and then poll the TRB crowd, asking what they think the US fatality rate is (the audience's estimate was too low).

Good message

Deputy Secretary @Pollytrott: "It's really incredible that the US road fatality rate is 5x the United Kingdom...There are a lot of ways you can explain that." And then she moved on.

I'd like to hear her talk about those explanations!

.@NHTSAgov head Ann Carlson:

"We are updating NCAP [federal crash safety ratings] and hope to have a new round completed in the next six months."

She says it will include pedestrian protection.

Context on NCAP in the article below
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

FHWA's Stephanie Pollack:

"Automakers do not *have* to wait until @NHTSAgov issues new rules in order to make their cars safer. They can just do it." [Applause]

A wild idea

During Q&A I asked @NHTSAgov's Ann Carlson why other rich countries are so much safer than the US, and what lessons the US should take from them.

Her answer was that other nations have:
- Lower car speeds
- Lower blood-alcohol limits for drivers
- "Smaller vehicles" (!!)