DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act

HR 851, the DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act, creates a new position within the Department of Transportation called the National Roadway Safety Advocate. This role directly serves victims and survivors of road crashes, as well as their family members (broadly defined to include non-immediate relatives), by providing them a dedicated point of contact at DOT. The advocate gathers stakeholder input on roadway safety programs, translates complex DOT processes into plain language, and submits annual reports highlighting systemic safety issues with recommendations for improvement. The position does not make policy decisions or alter existing laws but focuses on improving communication between DOT and those affected by road safety incidents.