Lawmakers laud DOT traffic safety initiatives

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A group of lawmakers recently commended Department of Transportation (DOT) initiatives designed to aid in saving first responder lives when responding to emergencies.

Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) recently joined Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) in touting the DOT’s effort to establish a new national safety priority to help the nation’s first responders.

Last year, the lawmakers introduced measures to establish a new national safety priority to increase public awareness of Move Over laws and encourage implementation of life-saving digital alert technology, noting the DOT’s program agenda mirrors that of the lawmakers.

“We saw heartbreaking roadside accidents in Illinois last year, and we need to reverse the alarming rise in first responder roadside deaths,” Durbin said. “The initiatives announced by DOT are a helpful step forward that will provide states with resources to better enforce Move Over laws and help keep our first responders safe.”

The technology, V2X, or vehicle-to-everything communications systems, can communicate with smartphones and other vehicles to alert passengers of an approaching emergency responder vehicle.

“One year ago this week, Illinois State Trooper Christopher Lambert was killed after being struck by a vehicle while assisting at a multi-vehicle crash,” Duckworth said. “Trooper Lambert’s death and others like it reflect a troubling increase in first responder deaths that demands action. I’m glad DOT is investing in new life-saving technologies like the First Responder Safety Technology Pilot Program, and I’ll continue to work with Senator Durbin and Representative Bustos to increase awareness of Move Over laws and protect our first responders.”

The Protecting Roadside First Responders Act, introduced by Durbin, Duckworth, would establish move over law education and compliance as a national highway safety priority under existing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration programs.