Jonathan Morrison Confirmed as NHTSA Administrator; NSC Welcomes Senate Vote
National Safety Council urges urgent action as roadway deaths remain at crisis levels.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Sep 19, 2025
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Jonathan Morrison as Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a role within the Department of Transportation.
The National Safety Council (NSC) issued a statement applauding the confirmation and stressing the need for decisive leadership to address roadway fatalities.
“Roadway deaths remain unacceptably high, with an average of 122 people losing their lives each day,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC CEO and chair of the Road to Zero Coalition. “NSC looks forward to continuing to partner with USDOT to end these preventable fatalities and achieve our shared goal of zero roadway deaths by 2050.”
In 2023, 44,762 people died in motor-vehicle crashes, equal to more than 122 deaths on a typical day. Beyond the human toll, motor-vehicle crashes cost the United States hundreds of billions of dollars annually in lost wages, medical and administrative expenses, property damage, and employer costs.
The Road to Zero Coalition, founded in 2016 by NSC, is the nation’s largest traffic safety alliance. Working in partnership with USDOT and more than 2,000 stakeholders, the coalition’s mission is to eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries by 2050.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.