​​​​Remarks as prepared for Delivery

Good morning. Thank you, Administrator Bhatt, Deputy Administrator White, Dr. Hampshire, and Director Cronin for your leadership and commitment to saving lives with V2X. 

I truly appreciate the strong safety partnership we have with DOT on this and so many other issues. 

At the NTSB, there has been no bigger champion than Member Michael Graham, whose leadership I want to acknowledge. 

Today, I’m coming to you from Swanton, Ohio, where we’re investigating a series of fatal crashes on Interstate 80. This media event is timely. One of the issues we’re looking at here is whether collision avoidance technology could’ve prevented this tragedy. 

This isn’t a new issue for us. The NTSB first recognized the need for collision warning technology in 1995 following our investigation of a multivehicle collision in Menifee, Arkansas. 

The lead vehicle entered dense fog and was struck from behind. More collisions followed; a total of nine vehicles were involved. 

One survivor described “white out” conditions. He couldn’t see beyond the hood of his car. Tragically, five people died. 

In the decades since Menifee, we’ve continued to advocate for V2X technology as a strategy for saving lives and preventing injury on our roads. 

Twelve years ago in Chesterfield, New Jersey: An 11-year-old girl died in a school bus collision; 15 other children and the school bus driver were injured. 

Six years ago: A 9-year-old girl and her twin brothers were killed at a school bus stop in Rochester, Indiana; a fourth child, just 11, was seriously injured. 

Four years ago in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania: five people — including one child — died in a multivehicle crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike; 50 other people were injured. 

Three years ago, in Phoenix, Arizona: four people were killed and 11 more were injured when a commercial vehicle struck a queue of passenger vehicles at about 63 mph. 

I could go on. 

In each case, we determined V2X technology could’ve prevented the crash. 

Today, the NTSB has 9 open safety recommendations to DOT related to V2X that are focused on protecting all road users — in vehicles and outside vehicles, which has never been more critical, as pedestrian deaths have soared across the U.S. since 2013. 

Our most recent recommendation, which stems from Mt. Pleasant, calls on DOT to take a leadership role — to implement a plan for nationwide connected vehicle technology. 

We issued that recommendation because we fervently believe strong, clear, and unequivocal DOT leadership is essential for nationwide V2X deployment. 

I’m here today because you’ve done just that, and I want to congratulate you on behalf of the entire agency for embracing YOUR role in “saving lives with connectivity.” 

And on a personal note, I want to thank you for being bold. 

Even though the safety promise of V2X is undisputed, its widespread adoption wasn’t a foregone conclusion. 

And yet, I firmly believe that DOT is essential to making it happen. 

This plan is a vital first step towards realizing the full lifesaving potential of this technology — technology that could prevent up to 615,000 crashes. 

At the same time, no one entity can do it alone. To save lives, it’ll take every stakeholder...at all levels...doing their part. 

I want to thank our safety partners for doing the right thing...for fighting for V2X, especially in the years where progress was slow...for keeping the faith despite numerous setbacks. 

We won’t ever forget those who led with safety. 

Today is a day of celebration, but it’s also a call to action. 

More than 1 million people have died on our nation’s roads since the Menifee tragedy nearly 30 years ago. 

A million people, gone. 

We cannot wait any longer. 

Especially because each of those deaths was preventable. 

Especially because V2X can help reverse the devastating public health crisis on our nation’s roads...save lives, whether a person is driving, walking, biking, or rolling... and fundamentally transform our nation’s transportation landscape. 

THAT is a future worth fighting for. 

It’s an honor to fight for safety alongside each of you. 

Thank you.                                  ​