AASHTO Guidance

American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is a nonprofit association that represents highway and transportation departments across the nation and serves as a liaison between State departments of transportation and the Federal government. AASHTO works to educate the public and key decision makers about the critical role that transportation plays in securing a good quality of life and sound economy for our nation, by setting design and installation standards, providing guidance and resources, and developing outreach materials.

AASHTO's Roadside Design Guide presents a synthesis of current information and operating practices related to roadside safety and focuses on safety treatments that can minimize the likelihood of serious injuries when a motorist leaves the roadway.

Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) presents uniform guidelines for crash testing permanent and temporary highway safety features and recommends evaluation criteria to assess test results.

• AASHTO/FHWA Joint Implementation Agreement for Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware describes the roles that AASHTO, FHWA, and agencies will play with regards to implementing safety hardware. To directly download the agreement to your computer, click here.
• FHWA Federal Register Notice – MASH Transition: Effective January 1, 2016, all changes to NCHRP 350-tested devices require testing under MASH in order to receive a Federal-aid eligibility letter from FHWA.
  • Questions and Answers regarding the MASH Implementation Agreement This Q&A covers the following topics: 1) Definitions; 2) Dates; 3) State Policies 4) Specific Situations; 5) Implementation of the Agreement; and 6) Funding.
• AASHTO Task Force 13 is a committee of concerned and experienced representatives from industry, academia, and State and Federal transportation departments who develop and recommend standards and specifications for bridge and road hardware, presented in the following Hardware Guides:
  • Highway Barrier
  • Bridge Rail
  • Sign Support
  • Highway Lighting Pole
  • Highway Drainage Products
• AASHTO Technology Implementation Group (TIG) Focus Technology: Cable Median Barrier
• AASHTO Technology Implementation Group (TIG) Focus Technology: Severe Duty Crash Cushion