Where Safety Policy Meets Innovation: Citian at the 2026 National Safety Summit

On March 19, Citian’s Fredy Santos and Tianqi Wang were in Washington, D.C. for the 2026 National Safety Summit, hosted by Safety21, the U.S. DOT National University Transportation Center for Promoting Safety. The Summit brought together federal officials, state and local government leaders, industry innovators, and academic researchers to advance life-saving transportation technologies and shape national safety priorities.

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This year’s agenda centered on autonomous vehicles, connected infrastructure, and the deployment of technology corridors, alongside persistent questions about protecting vulnerable road users and ensuring innovation reaches every community.

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What We Heard

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Across panels featuring USDOT leadership, state DOTs, and transportation technology leaders, a consistent message emerged: the agencies best positioned to benefit from emerging technologies are the ones building their data infrastructure now. AV readiness, connected infrastructure deployment, and VRU protection all depend on a foundation of accurate, accessible, and actionable safety data.

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A fireside chat with senior USDOT officials, including Deputy Assistant Secretary Loren Smith, reinforced that federal investment in transportation safety and technology is accelerating. For agencies tracking reauthorization priorities, the direction of federal attention was clear.

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Why It Matters

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Citian works at the intersection of data infrastructure and transportation safety. The conversations happening at events like this, about what agencies need to be ready for what’s coming, are exactly why we show up.

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Fredy and Tianqi’s presence in Washington reflects our ongoing commitment to staying engaged where the field is being shaped, not just where it already is.

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