Welcome to the FHWA Safety Program

Reducing Highway Fatalities

That's our job and our commitment – we work with our State and Local partners and others in the transportation community to develop and promote programs and technologies to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our Nation's roadways. In 2010, 32,885 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States – the lowest number of deaths since 1949 (30,246 fatalities in 1949). In addition, 2010 saw the lowest fatality and injury rates ever recorded: 1.10 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2010, compared to 1.13 deaths for 2009. The number of people injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2010 declined for a 11th straight year in a row, falling an estimated 2.9 percent from 2009.

The FHWA Office of Safety's mission is to reduce highway fatalities by making our roads safer through a data–driven, systematic approach and addressing all "4Es" of safety: engineering, education, enforcement, and emergency medical services. Increasing awareness of the need for roadway safety infrastructure improvements is very important. We are striving to provide decision–makers important information, tools and resources that will improve the safety performance of roadways. Safety should be considered first, every time and at every stage of a project. Make safety your first consideration in every investment decision.

New! FHWA's Congratulates the 2013 Office of Safety Photo Contest Winners

The Office of Safety is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 photo contest. The photos represent successful implementations of the Nine Proven Safety Countermeasures. More than 150 entries were received in ten different categories. Finalists' pictures were displayed at the Office of Safety's exhibition booth at the 2013 Transportation Research Board's (TRB) annual meeting. Final voting took place at the booth by TRB meeting attendees. Winners will also be displayed in the Winter edition of the Office of Safety, Safety Compass e-newsletter.

New! A Systemic Approach to Safety-Using Risk to Drive Action

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety has developed a web site with information and resources on the systemic approach to safety, which uses high-risk roadway features correlated with severe crash types to implement low-cost safety countermeasures across a transportation network. It does not replace the site analysis approach, but rather compliments it by providing a more comprehensive and proactive approach to road safety efforts. Read more.

New! 2013 National Roadway Safety Awards Call for Nominations

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Roadway Safety Foundation (RSF) are now accepting applications for the 2013 National Roadway Safety Awards. Jointly sponsored by USDOT FHWA and RSF, these awards recognize roadway safety achievements in infrastructure, operational, and program-related improvements.

Additional details, instrctions, and application packets are available at http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadwaysafetyawards/. All nominations must be receieved by March 31, 2013 to be considered.

New! Safe Roads for a Safer Future A Joint Safety Strategic Plan

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety, Office of Safety Research and Development, and Resource Center Safety and Design Technical Services Team have come together to develop this Safe Roads for a Safer Future – A Joint Safety Strategic Plan (hereafter referred to as the Safety Strategic Plan or SSP). The process brings together these safety units to focus on a common vision: toward zero deaths and serious injuries. read more

Proven Safety Countermeasures

This Web site will be your one-stop shop for information on the latest FHWA-recommended set of research-proven safety countermeasures and FHWA guidance on countermeasure considerations.

Many of these countermeasures are low-cost solutions, and FHWA encourages its partners to consider implementing these countermeasures broadly, as appropriate, to reap the benefits of using solutions that are known to save lives. learn more

Roadway Safety Professional Capacity Building Website

This Web site contains critical resources that can help roadway safety professionals increase their knowledge, skills, and abilities on the broad range of safety issues encountered in their jobs. The site features:

Roadway Safety Peer-to-Peer Program – helps agencies effectively manage, deploy, and implement roadway safety programs.
Noteworthy Practices Database – case studies of successful practices organized by safety topics and State.
Communities of Practice – online communities of roadway safety professionals engaged in information exchange on safety topics.
Training and Education – links to roadway safety training and education resources.

visit the site

Highway Safety Improvement Program

Intersection Safety

Local & Rural Road Safety

Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety

Roadway Departure Safety

Speed Management Safety

Additional Safety Programs & Initiatives

Including Safety Strategies in the Recovery Act Delivery

The safety of the traveling public and of the workers on the roadway is of utmost concern to the administration. Many safety improvements can be easily and cost effectively incorporated into existing "ready to go" projects without changing the scope or delaying the project. Making small changes to these projects can produce big safety benefits. As an example, incorporating rumble strips into a resurfacing project can cost as little at $600 per mile, and the benefits in terms of reductions in fatalities and serious injuries are dramatic.

Another way to achieve these safety benefits is through "programmatic" or "system-wide" projects that may focus on addressing safety issues in a particular area or corridor. Examples include projects that systemically install proven safety countermeasures such as guardrails, warning signs, striping, rumble strips, rumble stripes, safety edge and median barriers. Click here for more information on these and other proven safety countermeasures. This system-wide approach may be particularly useful to local governments.

Strategic Highway Safety Plans (SHSPs) are a good starting point for identifying stand-alone safety projects or enhancements to "ready to go" projects that can be implemented, constructed, and advanced quickly. The Economic Recovery Delivery is an opportunity to accelerate the implementation of these safety action plans, and the sooner these safety features can be put in place, the sooner they will save lives.

Furthermore, many state SHSPs include a data system improvement element. Improved data systems are eligible activities and such projects do not require the intensive planning, design, approvals, and permitting that construction projects do. The Office of Safety and our Field office Safety Specialists are prepared to help advance these important, life-saving, investments. see more info