Statement from Peter Goldwasser, Executive Director, Together for Safer Roads, on GAO Recommendations to Standardize Driver Visibility Measurement

In July, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report recommending that the U.S. Department of Transportation develop a standardized methodology for measuring driver visibility and blind zones. More recently, Quebec released a recommended direct vision standard for heavy vehicles following more than a year of consultation with industry, government, and safety stakeholders. Together, these developments suggest growing momentum across North America toward treating direct vision as a measurable component of vehicle safety and incorporating visibility into future vehicle purchasing, design, and safety policy.

These developments shift the conversation from documenting the consequences of poor visibility to determining how safer vehicle design can be implemented at scale—including how visibility should be measured, who is responsible for improving it, and how those measurements should influence vehicle design, procurement, and policy.

That question has been a long-term focus for Together for Safer Roads (TSR). In 2023, TSR worked with Congressman Jamie Raskin’s office to encourage the GAO review of direct vision and vehicle visibility. Through its Direct Vision Leadership Council, TSR has since convened fleets, manufacturers, researchers, and public agencies to help translate emerging research into practical implementation tools, including North America’s first Direct Vision Rating System for commercial trucks and a Direct Vision Transition Guide.

The GAO recommendation is significant because it addresses what many experts have viewed as a fundamental gap: without a common way to measure visibility, it is difficult to objectively compare vehicles, establish meaningful performance expectations, or incorporate visibility into purchasing decisions, safety standards, and future regulation.

Together, these actions represent an important opportunity to move from research and recommendations toward implementation across manufacturers, fleets, and government. TSR, together with its members and partners, looks forward to continuing to work across sectors and jurisdictions to accelerate the adoption of safer vehicle designs and proven safety practices that help prevent crashes, reduce serious injuries, and save lives.

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Together for Safer Roads
Together for Safer Roads (TSR) is a leading international NGO focused on building cross-sector partnerships to enhance fleet safety. TSR leverages the technology, data, and expertise of the private sector to create innovative programs aimed at preventing traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities around the world. TSR members include some of the largest and most influential fleets globally, as well as best-in-class road safety technology companies. Learn more at www.togetherforsaferroads.org.

Media Contact: Judy Klym, Judy@AgletStrategies.Com