How 'Liberty Politics' Cripples Road Safety Projects

With traffic fatalities on the rise in many states, it would seem natural for state leaders to tap into the $15 billion in federal funding available for road safety projects. But 'liberty politics' could hinder efforts to improve traffic safety, writes Matthew Brown, as illustrated by this quote from a Utah resident: "This country was founded on freedom and liberty, this country was not founded for safety or security," said Dalane England, adding that "People are going to die if we drive automobiles."

For example, while the U.S. Department of Transportation recommends automated traffic enforcement, only 16 states have speed camera programs, and six states explicitly prohibit both speed cameras and red light cameras. Utah, for example, banned red-light cameras in the 1990s. "While local leaders, law enforcement and some residents argued at the time that the technology would save lives, opponents won the day by framing the issue around personal liberty." More recently, Florida governor Ron DeSantis expressed a similar sentiment about proposed speed cameras in his state.

"Those arguments may surface again as states and localities decide how they want to use their share of funding set aside for road safety measures," writes Brown. "Federal guidance also requires at least 15% of a state’s highway safety improvement program funding targets pedestrians, bicyclists and other nonmotorized road users if those groups make up 15% or more of the state’s crash fatalities."