Final answer:
The Highway Transportation System, a result of the Federal Highway Act of 1956, has helped decrease traffic deaths by improving the travel infrastructure across the nation. Despite improvements in traffic safety, the system also had detrimental effects on small towns and public transportation funding.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Highway Transportation System has helped decrease traffic deaths by providing an infrastructure that allows for high-speed, uninterrupted travel nationwide. Evidence of the impact of the Federal Highway Act, which was approved in 1956, shows that it drastically improved the ability to travel by car, opening up opportunities for better response times in emergencies and access to health services. While the system did lead to improved traffic safety, the impacts were complex—also causing harm to small towns and less investment in public transportation—which might have had indirect effects on community health and dynamics.