Sean Duffy's Golden Age Lacks True Safety Focus - A Call to Action

Editorial: Rethinking Travel Safety in the Age of Civility

Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, is extolling a vision for a 'golden age' of civility in travel. His call emphasizes a need for good manners to tame the rise of unruly behavior in both air and ground travel. However, while advocating for polite interactions among passengers could reshape public demeanor, it casts a shadow over a much deeper and graver issue: the actual neglect of safety standards by the very department he heads.

The Dark Reality Beneath Civility

The grounding of Duffy's campaign, dubbed “The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You,” shines a light on a series of public disturbances in air travel, with reported incidents of in-flight violence soaring by 400% since 2019. Yet, suggesting that civility alone can rectify this situation belies a neglect of systemic improvements that could genuinely enhance passenger security.

During an unprecedented year of disruptions and a government shutdown in 2025, Duffy's strategy appears oddly disconnected. His approach to curb unruly air rage does nothing to address the backbone of travel safety—the regulations that protect passengers themselves. Similar missteps mirror the unfortunate reality of rampant safety deregulation that Duffy's Department of Transportation (DOT) has pursued. Suspension of vital safety measures—such as limits on bus and truck driver working hours—raises profound doubts about the welfare of the public.

Has Safety Become an Afterthought?

As seen in recent regulatory actions, the DOT has resorted to withdrawing crucial safety standards that advocate protection for hundreds of lives. According to sources, proposed changes that could save up to 1,000 lives each year are being dismissed in favor of administrative efficiency and deregulation. Misguided policies, including cuts to federal funding for bike lanes in urban locales, reflect a prioritization of industry demands over public safety. The cancellation of a $20 million grant aimed at implementing safer bike lanes in Boston is a case in point.

This deregulation frenzy serves not just as a blow to public welfare but continues to disproportionately affect liberal areas that already advocate for safer transportation options. Communities that primarily serve marginal populations, like Fairfield, Alabama, have suffered consequences for even attempting projects that would enhance pedestrian safety.

The Human Toll

When Duffy brushes over safety concerns with calls for civility, it disregards grieving families who have had to face loss that could have been prevented by stricter regulatory oversight. Stories, like that of the Wilburn family, whose losses stemmed from a truck accident, exemplify the stark realities that many have faced. Advocating for humane laws to protect innocent lives on the road is a fundamental responsibility of our government.

Indeed, we cannot ignore the voice of Barbara McCann, a former DOT safety official who remarked, "More daughters, mothers, children, and breadwinners are going to lose their lives" if the current trend of deregulation continues. Her words are a call to embrace a systematic reform of our transportation laws that gets to the root of safety concerns, rather than platitudes about civility.

Shifting the Discourse

As we navigate the ongoing discourse of civility in travel, it’s vital to address the complex systemic issues that underlie these behaviors. Investment in safe infrastructure, strict enforcement of safety protocols, and community engagement are paramount to building a robust public transportation system that fosters genuine civility.

As lifestyle-conscious adults in the Bay Area engage with transit and travel patterns, it’s imperative to recognize the role of policy advocated for by political leaders and hold them accountable to ensure the safety of the human experience in every journey. The golden age of civility should not merely rest on smiling faces; it should exist alongside robust, life-saving regulations that advocate for all travelers—on the road and in the air.

A Call to Action

If you believe in the need for change, it’s essential to advocate for the policies that prioritize safety in our transportation systems. Engage with community discussions that push for better funding for road improvements and safety regulations. Demand robust infrastructure that usurps the allure of a mere civility campaign and replaces it with a focus on safeguarding public welfare.