Transportation professionals regularly develop emails, technical guidance, reports, and public-facing materials that communicate an agency’s decisions and actions. Precise, objective language can help agencies communicate clearly while avoiding statements that may unintentionally create or increase liability. TRB hosted a webinar on Thursday, October 29, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern that examined legal concepts related to liability-neutral language and how they apply to transportation communications. Presenters shared examples of language that can introduce unnecessary risk, including subjective terms such as “dangerous,” or “sufficient,” and demonstrated how statements can be revised using objective, fact-based language. Attendees learned practical approaches for critically reviewing their own writing and improving internal and public-facing communications.
This webinar was sponsored by TRB’s Standing Technical Committee on Safety, Risk Management and Tort Liability.
The slides are available. 

Webinar agenda and presenters

• Liability neutral examples and pitfalls – Terri Parker, Missouri Department of Transportation
• Application of liability neutral principles – Mike Fleming, Washington Department of Transportation
• Question and answer session moderated by Joshua Root, Minnesota Department of Transportation

The first 40 minutes of the webinar were for presentations and the final 20 minutes were reserved for audience questions.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this webinar, participants can:

• Identify legal considerations associated with word choice in transportation communications and recognize language that may create unintended liability
• Apply liability-neutral writing principles to develop clear, objective, and fact-based professional communications

Professional Development Hours
This webinar was delivered as a scheduled – e-learning live event and is categorized within RCEP as Technical, Health and Safety.
Professional Development Hours (PDHs) earned on completion of this program were reported to the Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP). Certificates of Completion are issued to all participants via the RCEP.net online system. Complaints about registered providers may be addressed to RCEP, 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Fl., Washington, DC, 20005.
Continuing Legal Education Credits
TRB offered 1 CLE credit for this webinar. TRB did not seek approval for this webinar from the state board. Registered webinar attendees who signed in and viewed the entire webinar received a link to a certificate that they can fill out and provide to the appropriate MCLE Board(s) or Commission(s) within 30 days of activity.