The Safer Roads for Those Who Serve Act of 2026 would expand federal highway safety policy to focus more directly on roadside and highway worker protection. It amends several provisions of title 23 of the U.S. Code to require better collection and reporting of crash, injury, and fatality data involving highway workers, and to distinguish those incidents from other road users. It also directs states to include strategies in their strategic highway safety plans if worker injuries or fatalities rise over a recent two-year period, using recommendations from the Federal Highway Administration’s work zone management efforts.
The bill also broadens federal highway safety and grant programs to account for work zone safety and roadside incidents. It updates National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public awareness materials and requires a public service announcement on protecting roadside workers, including law enforcement, emergency responders, construction workers, utility and waste collection crews, tow truck operators, and drivers of disabled vehicles. In addition, it directs the Department of Transportation to conduct research and outreach on behavior-based interventions, education, engineering, and technology to improve worker safety, and it adds worker-protection criteria to INFRA, MEGA, and BUILD grant applications and evaluations.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would amend title 23 of the U.S. Code and related transportation grant provisions to make highway worker safety an explicit factor in federal safety planning, data collection, outreach, research, and discretionary grant review. States would face new planning expectations when worker injury and fatality rates increase, and federal agencies would need to update safety messaging and incorporate roadside worker protection into program administration. The bill authorizes appropriations of $2 million annually for public awareness activities and $3 million annually for research and outreach for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Sentiment
The available record suggests generally supportive, safety-focused sentiment. The bill was introduced by Senators Cortez Masto and McCormick and referred to committee without recorded opposition, amendment debate, or votes in the materials provided. Its framing emphasizes protecting workers and drivers in work zones and roadside incidents, which indicates a broadly preventive and bipartisan public-safety approach.
Contention
No formal contention is documented in the provided materials, but the bill’s main policy emphasis is on expanding federal requirements and grant criteria tied to work zone safety. Potential points of debate could include the added administrative burden on states and applicants, the need to distinguish highway-worker crashes from other roadway incidents in data systems, and whether the new outreach and research authorizations are sufficient or appropriately targeted. The bill also relies on federal definitions and existing FHWA programs, which may raise implementation questions for states and agencies.
To amend title 23, United States Code, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with respect to vehicle roadside crashes, work zone safety, and for other purposes.