Safer Roads for Those Who Serve Act of 2026

Bill Summary: Safer Roads for Those Who Serve Act of 2026

Overview

The Safer Roads for Those Who Serve Act of 2026 is a legislative proposal designed to enhance the safety of highway and roadside workers. The bill focuses on improving data collection, increasing public awareness of "Move Over" laws, and integrating worker safety protections into federal highway planning and grant applications. Its primary goal is to reduce the frequency of injuries and fatalities among the personnel who maintain and secure U.S. roadways.

Key Provisions

1. Enhanced Data Collection and Reporting

The bill amends the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidelines to ensure that "highway workers" are tracked as a distinct category of road users.
* Differentiation: Requires data to clearly separate highway worker crashes, injuries, and fatalities from other road users (such as pedestrians).
* Accountability: If a state sees an increase in highway worker injuries or fatalities over a two-year period, that state must include specific strategies to address these increases in its next strategic highway safety plan.

2. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Updates

The bill expands the scope of NHTSA's safety programs to more explicitly protect roadside workers:
* Expanded Protections: Broadens the definition of protected individuals to include construction workers, utility personnel, and individuals assisting disabled vehicles.
* Public Awareness: Within two years of enactment, the NHTSA must update its public materials regarding "Move Over" laws.
* Public Service Announcement (PSA): Within 180 days of the materials update, the NHTSA must launch a PSA targeting the protection of various roadside workers (including tow truck operators and waste collection drivers).

3. Research and Outreach

The Secretary of Transportation is mandated to conduct research into behavior-based interventions, engineering solutions, and technology to protect highway workers. This effort will utilize existing facilities such as the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center and various university transportation centers.

4. Integration into Federal Grant Programs

The bill requires that safety measures for highway workers be a consideration for projects applying for major federal grants, including:
* INFRA, Mega, and BUILD grants: Applicants must now demonstrate how their projects will protect highway workers both during construction (e.g., managing speeds and preventing vehicle intrusions) and after the project is completed.

Affected Parties

• Highway and Roadside Workers: Includes construction crews, utility workers, tow truck operators, waste/recycling collectors, and emergency responders.
• State Governments: Required to provide more granular safety data and develop mitigation strategies if worker fatality/injury rates rise.
• Federal Agencies: The FHWA and NHTSA will take on expanded roles in data tracking, public education, and research.
• Grant Applicants: Organizations applying for federal infrastructure grants must now include comprehensive work zone safety plans.

Funding and Timeline

The bill authorizes specific appropriations to fund these safety initiatives from fiscal year 2027 through 2031:
* Public Awareness/PSAs: $2,000,000 per year.
* Research and Outreach: $3,000,000 per year.

Procedural Status

The bill was introduced in the Senate on March 26, 2026, and has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.