Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) introduced the bipartisan Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act to protect first responders and roadside workers as they do their jobs on roads and highways. This legislation would enhance strategies to help reduce the risk of injury or death faced by law enforcement officers, emergency medical services, fire and rescue services, tow truck drivers, construction workers, and other roadside workers.

Nationwide, since 2020, more than 500 roadside workers have been killed doing their jobs on the side of the road. Many were tow truck operators, construction workers, and law enforcement officers. According to the Nevada Department of Transportation, traffic incidents are one of the leading causes of death for first responders nationwide. Nevada state data also reveals more than 7,100 work zone crashes occurred between 2019-2023, resulting in 31 deaths that included both workers and drivers.

"Over the past fifty years, America has worked to make roads safer for drivers and pedestrians, but we still have work to do to protect those whose jobs regularly put them on the side of the road," said Senator Cortez Masto. "First responders and roadside workers risk death or injury every single day while responding to an emergency or maintaining our roads. I'm proud to lead this bipartisan effort to help keep them safe."

"Every day in Pennsylvania and across the country, law enforcement officers, EMS crews, and roadside workers put themselves in harm's way-often just feet from speeding traffic-to keep the rest of us safe," said Senator McCormick. "This bipartisan effort will improve data collection, strengthen public awareness, and prioritize safety in infrastructure projects from the start-helping protect those who protect us."

"The Associated General Contractors of America strongly supports the Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act. The legislation recognizes an urgent reality: the workers who build, maintain, and respond on our roadways deserve stronger protections from preventable roadside crashes. We appreciate Senators Cortez Masto and McCormick for advancing bipartisan legislation that will help improve safety outcomes for highway workers and the traveling public alike," said Jeff Shoaf, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America.

"The Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) strongly supports the Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act. Protecting those who serve on the front lines is a core public safety priority. Sheriffs and deputies, along with other roadside personnel, face constant risk while carrying out their duties - often in unpredictable and dangerous conditions. This legislation reinforces a shared commitment to safer roadways and stronger protections for those who keep our communities safe," said Megan Noland, Executive Director of the MCSA

"Every day, roadway workers and roadside responders put themselves in harm's way to keep all of us safe, and sadly too many die in fatal preventable motor vehicle crashes. The Safer Roads for Those Who Serve Act strengthens roadway safety by improving crash data, elevating work-zone protections and expanding public awareness of Move Over laws that save lives. This legislation reflects what we know works, a Safe System Approach that addresses risk and reinforces the ideal that protecting those who work on our roadways, and every person who uses them, requires a shared commitment to safety. The National Safety Council strongly supports this legislation and applauds Senators Cortez Masto and McCormick for their bipartisan leadership," said Lorraine Martin, CEO of the National Safety Council.

In order to protect first responders and roadside workers, the Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act would:

• Require states to improve data collection and analysis of highway worker injuries and fatalities and create a highway worker safety plan if the total number of injuries and fatalities increases over a 2-year period;
• Create a new Public Awareness Campaign to fully reflect the dangers all roadside workers face along our roadways and how the public can help protect them;
• Continue research and outreach efforts to enhance the safety of highway workers; and
• Require major infrastructure grant applicants to include protections expected to aid roadside workers and driving public safety during and after construction in their grant application.

Read the full bill here. The Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act is supported by the Association of General Contractors, the National Safety Council, the American Automobile Association (AAA), the National Association of State EMS Officials, the National Waste and Recycling Association, American Traffic Safety Services, the Major County Sheriffs of America, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Modern Analytics for Roadway Safety (MARS) Coalition, RTC Washoe, RTC Southern Nevada, the Tahoe Transportation Department, the Nevada Fire Chiefs Association, the Nevada Police Union, the Building and Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada, the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union, Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada, and the Las Vegas Police Protective Association.

The proud daughter of a Teamster, Senator Cortez Masto is a champion for all workers, including those on the frontlines like law enforcement officers and firefighters. Her bipartisan bills to combat the crisis of law enforcement suicide, provide mental health resources to police officers, and support families of retired fallen law enforcement officers have been signed into law by presidents of both parties. Cortez Masto introduced bicameral legislation to implement federal workplace heat stress protections, and had previously pushed the Biden administration to begin developing federal heat standards to help protect workers and communities from the extreme heat. Additionally, Senator Cortez Masto secured multiple transportation provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help Nevada communities make transit to school safer for students and support smart cities that use technology to solve transportation challenges.

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