The Strategic Highway Safety Plan: An Analysis of Process, Similarities and Differences, and Future Considerations

Project summary:

As required by SAFETEA-LU, all states must submit to the Federal Highway Administration comprehensive reports detailing enforcement programs, driver education policies, and technological approaches to transportation safety. These reports, known as Strategic Highway Safety Plans (SHSP), are a new requirement, and many states have never completed such a comprehensive analysis. This project reviewed the current state of SHSPs in selected states around the nation. During the analysis, five key themes emerged: 1) a focus on driver behavior, 2) the importance of political leadership, 3) the use of emerging technologies, 4) the importance of collaborative approaches, and 5) the use of measurement-driven approaches. The researchers recommended certain areas of emphasis concerning the SHSP development process. Among those recommendations were strengthening public engagement activities and initiatives to communicate the importance of roadway safety, reviewing the development structure and safety stakeholders involved, and continuing integration across agencies contributing to safety.