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Training, Tools, Guidance and Countermeasures for Locals

The following training, tools, guidance and countermeasures are currently available to rural and local governments. The Office of Safety, Local and Rural team is continuously looking for new ways to meet the needs of local and rural road owners and operators. Insuring that tools meet the needs of the users and that they have the resources and training they need to effectively use the tools is a critical part of the solution.

Webinars: Addressing Safety on Locally-owned and Maintained Roads
On February 8th and 24th, the FHWA Office of Safety hosted a two-art webinar series addressing safety on locally-owned and maintained roads. Illinois, Minnesota, Washington, Michigan, Alabama and New Jersey shared their innovative approaches and successful practices to addressing safety on locally-owned and maintained roads in the areas of data collection and analysis, local project identification, local project administration, funding, training and technical assistance as well as partnerships and outreach.
- To view a recording of the February 8th webinar featuring Illinois, Minnesota and Washington, please click here.
- To download the presentation slides from both the Febraury 8th and 24th webinars, click here.
Local Rural Road Owners Manual
- Intersection Safety
- Roadway Departure Safety
- Safety Information Analysis
- Developing Safety Plans
Noteworthy Practices: Addressing Safety on Locally-Owned and Maintained Roads - A Domestic Scan
Local and Rural Roads Safety Peer-to-Peer Program
Implementing the High Risk Rural Roads Program
This document contains findings from research and subsequent follow-up to States’ implementation of the High Risk Rural Roads Program (HRRRP) within the context of States' programs and policies.
Local Roads Safety Resource CD
The CD provides quick and easy access to the latest information on local roads safety. Organized by topic area in one place, the CD provides guidance, tools, and other resources from government agencies and national associations on local roadway safety.
Maintenance of Signs and Sign Supports - A Guide for Local Highway and Street Maintenance Personnel
This guide is intended to help local agency maintenance workers ensure their signs are maintained to meet this need.
9 Proven Countermeasures
This guidance memorandum highlights when and where we believe certain processes, design techniques, or safety countermeasures should be used.
Implementing Local Safety Management
A Safety Management System (SMS) gives decision makers and those who manage and maintain local roadways the tools to systematically identify, prioritize, correct, and evaluate the performance of their transportation safety investments.
Maintenance of Drainage Features for Safety
This guide is intended to help local road agency maintenance workers understand the importance of maintaining and upgrading drainage features on their road system to avoid an unsafe condition.
Maintenance of Signs and Sign Supports for Local Roads and Streets Guide Book
This handbook is intended to help maintenance workers understand the importance of well-maintained signs and provide information that will help them in accomplishing that task.
Pedestrian Safety Campaign Tool Kit
This Pedestrian Safety Campaign website includes materials designed for use in television, radio, cinema, and print advertising. Some of the materials included are available in both English and Spanish.
Road Safety Audits
A Road Safety Audit (RSA) is the formal safety performance examination of an existing or future road or intersection by an independent, multidisciplinary team.
Road Safety Tools for Local Agencies [PDF 4.91 MB]
This synthesis focuses on identifying safety tools that can be used by these agencies in formulating safety programs. It recognizes the wide variation in the parameters of operation and responsibilities of local agencies. Also, it acknowledges that expertise in transportation safety analysis varies widely among local agencies.
Roadway Safety Guide [PDF 863 KB]
Rural Highway Safety Clearinghouse
The Rural Highway Safety Clearinghouse is intended to be an easy-to-use starting point for information about safety on our nation's rural roads.
Safety Circuit Rider Best Practices Guide
The guide focuses on examples of two groups of programs: 1) existing SCR programs, and 2) existing programs that provide services similar to an SCR but which are not technically known as a SCR program.
Tools and Technology
Training and Education
This page provides links and downloads to references and resources for roadway safety training, education, curricula, and workforce development.
Transportation Safety Planning (TSP)
This is a comprehensive, system-wide, multimodal, proactive process that better integrates safety into surface transportation decision-making
Vegetation Control for Safety – A Guide for Local Highway and Street Maintenance Personnel
The purpose of this guide is to help local road agency maintenance workers identify locations where vegetation control is needed to improve traffic and pedestrian safety, to provide guidance for maintenance crews, and to make them aware of safe ways to mow, cut brush and otherwise control roadside vegetation.
W-Beam Guardrail Repair – A Guide for Highway and Street maintenance Personnel
This guide focuses on how to repair (not design) the most widely used barrier–the strong post W-beam guardrail identified as SGR-04 in the Standardized Highway Barrier Hardware Guide.