Biden-Buttigieg DOT to tap infrastructure spending to promote speed cameras nationwide

The U.S. Department of Transportation's "National Roadway Safety Strategy" includes promoting the use of speed cameras in cities and towns as a "proven safety countermeasure."

DOT received $6 billion to issue grants to "help cities and towns" with road safety, which was part of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that Congress passed. 

"That law creates a new Safe Streets and Roads for All program, providing $6 billion to help cities and towns deliver new, comprehensive safety strategies, as well as accelerate existing, successful safety initiatives," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during a speech on Thursday about the launch of DOT's National Roadway Safety Strategy.

"It will protect not only drivers but all road users, including people who walk, bike, or use a wheelchair," he added. "Pedestrian fatalities, as the Second Gentleman [Doug Emhoff] mentioned, have been increasing significantly faster than overall roadway fatalities, and we need to address the safety of those outside as well as inside the vehicle."   

Buttigieg also said the strategy "represents a comprehensive plan to significantly reduce injuries and deaths on America's roadways."

Under the plan, one of DOT's "key departmental actions to enable safer speeds" includes providing "noteworthy practices for re-engineering roads to slow down vehicles rather than relying primarily on enforcement to manage speeding" as well as a goal to "promote speed safety cameras as a proven safety countermeasure."

Just the News asked DOT if cities and towns receiving grants will be able to use them to install more speed cameras and/or bike lates.

"The U.S. Department of Transportation is in the process of determining funding eligibility for these grants, which will be outlined in an upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)," a spokesperson said. Additional information about eligible projects will be included in the NOFO."