The Interstate system ceremonially begins at Zero Milestone, a small and often overlooked obelisk next to the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse south of the White House. The official name of the system is “Dwight D Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways”.   As of 2013, it had a total length of 47,856 miles. About one-quarter of all vehicle miles driven in the country use the Interstate system. We know it as I-80 or I-95. (Even numbered roads travel East/West, odd number roads travel North/South)

Now, we are at a new milestone. We are embarking on a similarly ambitious quest, and we need you to come with us. We call it the “Road to Zero.”

This means zero roadway fatalities. Absolutely zero.

Last year in America, 35,092 people died on our nation’s roads – a 7.2 percent increase over the previous year, and one of the biggest single-year increases on record.

The numbers tend to numb us, by making us think of these victims as simple statistics. In reality, each one of them was a person – someone’s son, daughter, parent, co-worker, neighbor, friend, or loved one.

Each of these people was on a journey, whether in a car, truck, motorcycle, bus, bike or on foot – and failed to reach their destination safely.

There are many possible reasons. It could have been the result of distracted driving or driving under the influence of alcohol. Bad weather may have played a part. Perhaps the road they used was heavy with traffic, or in need of repair.

Whatever the case, highway safety requires relentless vigilance from all of us – both as road users and as pedestrians – and the open-mindedness to look for better tools and methods that can help us reach one of our most elusive goals: zero deaths on our roads.

This is why Secretary Foxx, NHTSA, FHWA, FMCSA and many others in the transportation community are joining forces.

This “Road to Zero Coalition” is increasing its efforts and enlisting the support of one of the nation’s most influential safety groups – the National Safety Council – to help us get to zero.

Our “Road to Zero” is more than a slogan. It’s a mission that transportation authorities in the U.S. and abroad have made their number one priority.

While zero deaths is an ambitious goal, it is the only acceptable one.

It’s a goal that will take time to reach, and it will require significant effort from everyone – including the public – but we are prepared to do whatever it takes to succeed.

As Steve Jobs once said, “good enough is never good enough.”

Working together, we can reach a day when there are no fatalities on the nation’s roadways, sidewalks and bicycle paths.

Today is the day we work to stem the tide of roadway tragedies. As we embark on the “Road to Zero,” today is a Zero Milestone of a different kind – and we as 2Pass Defensive Driving are counting on you to join us.