Skip to content

What Will It Take To Give Victims and Advocates a Voice at US DOT?

A new bill would put a dedicated "roadway safety advocate" in the halls of US DOT — and you can support it right now.

The federal Department of Transportation is accepting public comments about what it should propose for the next surface transportation reauthorization bill — and one advocate is hoping that legislation will finally give victims a voice.

Today on the Brake, we’re talking to Marianne Karth of AnnaLeah & Mary for Truck Safety, who’s pushing for the creation of a new, non-partisan “National Roadway Safety Advocate” position, which will give victims, survivors, and street safety advocates a champion at the nation’s transportation agency.

Already the subject of bicameral legislation, the job is the “missing piece” in our roadway safety puzzle, Karth says, and a key guide to help the public understand what it takes to enact laws that save lives. Plus, it will help DOT officials understand what victims need from them, too.

Listen in to learn more about what a National Roadway Safety Advocate would do, and check out Karth’s step-by-step directions to leave a comment in support of this idea here. 

You’re also welcome to read an unedited transcript of this conversation (with some AI typos) here.

Comments Are Temporarily Disabled

Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.

Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.

More from Streetsblog USA

Why Cities Need More ‘Agile’ Streets

March 26, 2026

Wednesday’s Headlines Feel Pain at the Pump

March 25, 2026

D.C. Advocates Sue To Save Key Bike Lane From Trump Teardown

March 24, 2026

How a ‘Universal Basic Neighborhood’ Can Help Americans Live Longer

March 24, 2026

Tuesday’s Headlines Keep Our Eyes on the Road

March 24, 2026
See all posts