Watch: Pete Buttigieg Reveals Shocking Comparison Between Road Fatalities And Gun Violence

Written By BlabberBuzz | Tuesday, 18 April 2023 05:15 AM
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Watch: Pete Buttigieg Reveals Shocking Comparison Between Road Fatalities And Gun Violence

During an interview on MSNBC's "PoliticsNation" last Saturday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg talked about the number of roadway fatalities in the United States, saying it is "comparable to gun violence, and we see a lot of racial disparities.".

Buttigieg made these remarks while being questioned by host Al Sharpton about his efforts to address inequality concerning road fatalities. Highlighting the problem of racial disparities, Sharpton said, "A lot of people don't understand, even down to road fatalities, it is not equal."

Buttigieg responded, saying that the problem deserves greater attention. He cited figures indicating that around 40,000 people die in roadway accidents annually in the U.S. He noted that this fatality level is comparable to that caused by gun violence. He also highlighted the racial disparities, saying that Black and brown Americans, tribal citizens, and rural residents are at a higher risk of being killed in car accidents or as pedestrians.

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The transportation secretary added that road design, access to safe street design with crosswalks, and good lighting also significantly drivev disparities. Discrimination is also a factor. He emphasized the need for action to address these issues, stating that "we have a responsibility to act on that."

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Last year, Buttigieg launched the "Reconnecting Communities" program, a $1 billion effort to infuse racial equity into America's infrastructure. Critics dubbed this the "racist roads" program. In 2021, Buttigieg said the initiative aimed at "reconnecting people who may have been disconnected or divided by discriminatory decisions in the past."

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Recently, over two dozen progressive Democrats, including Reps. Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Ayanna Pressley, and Ilhan Omar signed a letter calling for reform to "racist traffic enforcement" in the nation's roadways. The letter urged the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation to condemn the status quo of traffic enforcement and develop reforms to reduce racial inequities in traffic stops.

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