Overview
Title
To establish the position of National Roadway Safety Advocate within the Department of Transportation, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 851 is like making a new helper job in the Transportation Department, called the National Roadway Safety Advocate, to listen to people about road safety and share their ideas to make roads safer, but this helper can't change laws or make big decisions.
Summary AI
H.R. 851 aims to create the position of National Roadway Safety Advocate within the Department of Transportation. This role will involve gathering and sharing suggestions from people affected by road crashes to improve roadway safety measures. The Advocate will have the authority to educate stakeholders and provide feedback to the Department of Transportation, but will not be allowed to interfere with laws or policies or make legal decisions. An annual report highlighting road safety issues and suggesting solutions will also be required from the Advocate.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
The bill in question, titled the "DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act," proposes establishing a position within the Department of Transportation known as the National Roadway Safety Advocate. This role is intended to support and communicate with victims of road crashes and their families. Furthermore, this Advocate will be tasked with collecting feedback from these individuals and relaying it to the Department in hopes of informing roadway safety policies and practices.
General Summary
In essence, the bill aims to create a dedicated position within the Department of Transportation to specifically address and advocate for the needs and concerns of road crash victims and survivors. Significant tasks will include providing educational resources, facilitating communication between the Department and stakeholders, and summarizing systemic issues to help inform safety strategies. However, the Advocate's role is designed to remain non-decision-making, emphasizing communication and educational support rather than direct policy influence or legal advice.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several concerns are raised about how effective this bill might be if enacted. First, the role of the National Roadway Safety Advocate lacks clarity in terms of measurable outcomes, which can hinder accountability and efficiency. Additionally, the bill outlines numerous limitations on the Advocate's authority that may restrict the role's potential impact. The bill does not specify what qualifications are necessary for the appointment to this significant role, which might result in unsuitable candidates filling the position.
There is also ambiguity surrounding how the position will be funded, potentially leading to unchecked spending. Furthermore, the requirement for regular meetings with the Secretary might create unnecessary redundancies in communication methods between the Department and stakeholders. The broad language regarding the publication of educational materials could lead to variable implementation, and the mandate for regular and additional reports might result in excessive administrative burdens.
Impact on the Public
Broadly speaking, if implemented effectively, the establishment of this position could improve how road safety issues are addressed by incorporating direct feedback from those most affected. It could lead to more informed safety policies, potentially enhancing the overall effectiveness of the Department of Transportation in handling roadway safety concerns.
However, the lack of clarity around the role's effectiveness metrics and authority could result in inefficacies that limit any positive impact. Should appointments to this role fail to consider necessary expertise, the enhanced advocacy and communication sought might not materialize, underscoring a disconnect between policy intentions and outcomes.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For victims and survivors of road crashes, as well as their family members, this bill could provide a tangible avenue for having their experiences and concerns directly communicated to the Department of Transportation. The presence of a National Roadway Safety Advocate could facilitate a more transparent and supportive interaction with the Department, potentially leading to improvements in safety measures based on first-hand stakeholder input.
On the other hand, with the Advocate's limited authority to affect substantive policy change directly, stakeholders might feel their feedback is not as impactful as hoped. The potential for inefficient administrative processes might also mean slower response times to their concerns.
In sum, while the bill proposes a role that could enhance communication between road safety stakeholders and the Department of Transportation, its effectiveness will heavily depend on the execution of its provisions, including selecting candidates with the appropriate expertise and ensuring that reporting mechanisms serve as useful channels for change rather than bureaucratic hurdles.
Issues
The role of the National Roadway Safety Advocate is not clearly defined in terms of measuring outcomes or success (Section 2(c)), which could lead to inefficiency or lack of accountability in enhancing roadway safety efforts.
The limitations section in Section 2(d)(2) is extensive, which may constrain the ability of the National Roadway Safety Advocate to effectively advocate and serve as a liaison for stakeholders, potentially reducing the effectiveness of the position.
The lack of specific qualifications or experience required for the National Roadway Safety Advocate in Section 2 could lead to the appointment of individuals who may not be best suited for this critical safety role.
The absence of a clear funding source or limit for the support provided by the Office of the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy in Section 2(f) could potentially lead to unchecked spending or financial mismanagement.
The requirement for the National Roadway Safety Advocate to meet not less frequently than once per quarter with the Secretary in Section 2(d)(1)(H) may create redundancy if other department officials already engage with stakeholders, adding complexity without clear benefits.
The broad language in Section 2(d)(1)(F) about educational materials being published in accessible formats with clear wording is subjective, which could lead to inconsistent implementation and effectiveness.
The provision allowing for additional reports as determined necessary by the Advocate in Section 2(h)(2) lacks clear guidelines on necessity, potentially leading to excessive and inefficient reporting burdens without justified outcomes.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this Act is titled the “DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act” which establishes the formal name of the legislation.
2. Position of National Roadway Safety Advocate Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill establishes the position of National Roadway Safety Advocate within the Department of Transportation. This Advocate will work to communicate with and support road crash victims and their families, by sharing their feedback with the Department, providing information on safety issues, and offering education on Department activities, while also having limitations on legal advice and decision-making authority.