DES MOINES, IOWA (January 29, 2025) — 1000 Friends of Iowa announced today the release of the Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment (VRUSA) Comparison Report. Created through a collaborative effort by Midwest non-profits within the RE-AMP network, this report examines how state departments of transportation are improving their efforts to ensure the safety of people who walk, bike, and roll on our streets. The findings aim to drive meaningful change and safer road conditions for all.
Click here to review the report.
Since the pandemic, traffic violence involving pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users has seen a significant rise across the nation. In Iowa alone, the Iowa State Patrol reported 351 traffic fatalities in 2024, with 30% of those involving vulnerable road users. The majority of these fatalities happen on state roads.
In response, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mandates that states conduct a Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment every five years. The first round of these assessments was released last year by most states. Though states had key areas that had to be included in the assessment, some state assessments were more robust and effective than others. The report compares the VRUSA from six Midwest states and makes recommendations on how these assessments can be improved in the next round, and how they can be better utilized as a tool for safer roads for all users.
Additional details about 1000 Friends of Iowa and Vulnerable Road Users can be found at 1000friendsofiowa.org.
