Strategic Highway Safety Plans: A Champion's Guide to Saving Lives

A CHAMPION'S GUIDE TO SAVING LIVES

Interim Guidance to Supplement SAFETEA-LU Requirements

Preview Document

October 14, 2005

Prepared by:
Federal Highway Administration
in cooperation with
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Federal Transit Administration
and
Federal Railroad Administration

Buckle Up America!

PURPOSE OF GUIDANCE

A State Department of Transportation (DOT) developed Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) is a new Federal requirement of SAFETEA-LU, 23 USC 148, and is a major part of the core Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). This preview document has two purposes:

To promote best practices and serve as interim guidance to State DOTs and their safety partners for the development and implementation of the State SHSP.
To assist State DOTs in creating an SHSP that meets the requirements of SAFETEA-LU with the ultimate goal of reducing the number of highway fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads.

The purpose of this interim guidance in the format of this “Preview Document” is to provide the best available information in a timely manner. The US DOT is still analyzing and interpreting legislation and crafting additional guidance material to further enhance this guidance, particularly the sections on Implementing and Evaluating SHSPs. In addition, FHWA is developing guidance on the HSIP reporting requirements of Section 1401 of SAFETEA-LU.