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The biggest safety challenge Honda is tackling isn’t autonomy—it’s the way people actually drive.

Honda has one of the boldest safety targets in the industry: zero traffic fatalities by 2050. It’s ambitious, but when you hear Brian Bautsch, Director of Safety Strategy, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., explain the three-part strategy behind it—technology, human behavior, and national partnerships—it starts to sound a lot more achievable. In this conversation, Brian shares how Honda is pushing both vehicle innovation and driver education at the same time, including a K–12 program already reaching nearly a million students.

We also dig into the reality of today’s safety data, why risky behavior remains the biggest hurdle, and how dealers play an essential role in helping customers understand the technology already in their cars. If you’re curious how OEMs think about the future of safety—and what it means for the people interacting with customers every day—this episode is a surprisingly practical look at where we’re heading.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro

0:36 Honda’s zero-fatality goal

1:04 The three-part strategy behind 2050

1:29 Teaching safer behavior: K–12 education program

2:24 Reaching nearly 1M students

2:45 How modern safety tech is evolving

3:27 Preparing customers for Level 3+ autonomy

3:55 Why education builds trust with drivers

4:26 How dealers fit into Honda’s safety plan

5:10 Are we on track for safer roads?

6:00 Closing

Connect with Brian Bautsch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-bautsch-947b349a/

Learn more about Honda's Safety Initiatives: https://global.honda/en/safety/policy/

Our coverage of Automobility LA is brought to you by our friends at Cars Commerce: https://www.carscommerce.inc/

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