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. The projected fatality data for 2009 places the highway death count at 33,963, a drop of 8.9 percent as compared to the 37,261 deaths reported in 2008. The fatality rate for 2009 declined to the lowest on record, to 1.16 fatalities per 100 million Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) down from 1.25 fatalities per 100 million VMT in 2008.

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.

The Safety Edge

The asphalt paving technique called the Safety Edge is gaining momentum across the country as State transportation departments strive to protect motorists from run-off-the-road crashes. The Federal Highway Administration recommends that States use the safety edge technique—particularly on two-lane roads with unpaved shoulders. Read more...

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

As of April 16, 2010 we're up to 921 “Safety/Traffic Management” projects, totaling $1,331,441,802, representing 7.4% of total FHWA ARRA projects and 5% of total funding.

FHWA Web site developed to assist all State and local agencies to implement the ARRA as expeditiously as possible. It includes a series of key questions and answers (Q&As). These Q&As will continue to be updated as more information becomes available and this web page will provide all stakeholders with the latest information. Read more...

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

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Highlights

NEW Pedestrian Forum - Summer 2010

NEW FREE Designing for Pedestrian Safety Webinar Series

NEW Pedestrian Safety Webinar - August 13th

NEW Roadside Design: Steel Strong Post W-beam. A guidance memo was issued on May 17, 2010 on the height of guardrail for new installations. Guidance regarding existing guardrail will be developed in the next several months, in consultation with AASHTO's Technical Committee on Roadside Safety.

NEW HSM Webinars

NEW Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [HTML, PDF] On April 22, 2010, a standard for maintaining minimum retroreflectivity of longitudinal pavement markings was published as a notice of proposed rulemaking in the federal register.

Implementing the High Risk Rural Roads Program

The Crash Modification Factors Clearinghouse houses a Web-based database of CMFs along with supporting documentation to help transportation engineers identify the most appropriate countermeasure for their safety needs.

USLIMITS 2: Expert system for recommending speed limits based on NCHRP Project 3-67

Press Releases

New Data Show Bicycling and Walking Up by 25 Percent Report Looks at Efforts to Increase Bicycling and Walking in the U.S. more...

The Fast Lane

Official Blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation view

Web Page Contact

Janet Ewing
Communications & Outreach Manager
janet.ewing@dot.gov