The Department of Transportation announced plans to pour hundreds of millions into saving lives on the highway with “post-crash care and pre-hospital blood transfusion capabilities.”
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration boss Jonathan Morrison recently said that the department has plans to start empowering first responders to administer blood transfusions to crash victims in an effort to save lives.
“When you administer blood to someone who is bleeding out prior to them arriving at the hospital, there is a 37% chance of them making it,” said Morrison.
Blood loss represents a major factor in highway fatalities, and a DOT press release in October said the department plans to address that with “$335 million in investments to support post-crash care and pre-hospital blood transfusion capabilities.”
DOT said the program would begin in 31 states “to make sure first responders have what they need when every second counts.”
The DOT’s October release highlighted a $3.2 million project in Columbus, Ohio, “to establish a post-crash care program that improves emergency response times and trauma care for roadway crashes across Columbus and the region, including citywide deployment of life-saving prehospital blood transfusions.”
The blood transfusions investment came as part of a much bigger $1 billion investment for 297 projects in 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Tribal lands “that will make roads safer for American families,” DOT said.
Investments also target hazardous intersections, dangerous railroad crossings, expanding truck parking, and strengthening emergency response services.
“Under President Trump, we’re making America’s roads safer than ever. This historic investment doubles down on our progress by equipping communities with the infrastructure and programs necessary to continue saving lives,” said DOT Secretary Sean Duffy. “We’re also making major investments in the truckers' quality of life by reversing the nation’s severe parking shortage.”
On Tuesday, NHTSA released estimates of a 2.5% drop in traffic fatalities for the first half of 2026, projecting the second-lowest half-year fatality rate in U.S. history.
NHTSA estimated total crash fatalities fell to an estimated 16,750 from January through June 2026, down from 17,175 during the first half of 2025.
The release didn’t include specifics on large truck crashes, which comes as part of a separate publication, though the last June NHTSA release saw some positive trends.
[Related: New truck crash stats show safety improved, even with more non-domiciled CDL drivers]
