Local Programs
Local highway agencies often do not have the resources needed to adequately address safety problems on the roads they maintain. The FHWA Local and Tribal Safety Program provides national leadership in identifying, developing, and delivering safety programs and products to local officials and tribal governments to improve highway safety on local and tribal roads.
Rural road safety is a particular concern, because the majority of highway fatalities take place on rural roads. Rural roads account for approximately 40 percent of the vehicle miles traveled in the U.S., but almost 55 percent of fatalities. According to recent data, 23,339 people were killed in rural crashes in 2006 and the fatality rate for rural crashes is more than twice the fatality rate in urban crashes.
- Rural Safety
The US Department of Transportation announced the Rural Safety Initiative on February 29, 2008, to bring a new focus on the rural safety problem on our nation’s rural highways. The press release and the Rural Safety Initiative Plan, which outlines this initiative, are found at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/ruralsafety/
The Rural Safety Innovation Program (RSIP) published in the Federal Register on February 29, 2008 is one element of the plan. This one-time opportunity uses funds from the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program and the Delta Region Transportation Development Program. The RSIP requested applications from road owners for projects to improve safety on rural roads. There were 96 initial applications received from state and local governments in 28 states by the April 14, 2008 due date. The comprehensive phase II application, review and selection process was completed, and the final project selections were announced on August 27, 2008. The announcement at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/dot08123.htm lists the 21 projects selected in 14 states, 3 counties and 2 parishes to receive a total of $14.7 million. These projects will be monitored and their performance evaluated as they are implemented, and resulting good practices will be shared with the rural road safety community.
Another part of the Rural Safety Initiative is the establishment of the Rural Highway Safety Clearinghouse at http://www.ruralhighwaysafety.org on June 30, 2008. The web based Clearinghouse links to a growing collection of rural road safety documents and resources that are of interest to all rural road owners and agencies, and safety practitioners in all aspects of rural road safety. The Center for Excellence in Rural Safety (CERS) http://www.ruralsafety.umn.edu/ at the University of Minnesota, developed the site under the sponsorship of the Federal Highway Administration. Rural safety practitioners are encouraged to visit the site to find articles and resources about safety problems, solutions, programs, funding and related information. Users are also encouraged to submit suggestions for other documents and resources to be added as the Clearinghouse develops.
For more information, please contact: Mr. John E. Dewar – Phone (202) 366-2218 or Email: john.dewar2@dot.gov, or Ms. Karen Timpone – Phone (202) 366 -2327 or Email: karen.timpone@dot.gov.
Guidance for Addressing Local Safety Issues
Here's where to find engineering guidance and community education tools to address local safety issues.
-
A Road Safety Audit (RSA) is the formal safety performance examination of an existing or future road or intersection by an independent audit team. The FHWA works with State and local jurisdictions to integrate RSAs into the project development process for new roads and intersections, and also encourages RSAs on existing roads and intersections.
-
Click here for links to the Office of Safety's local road safety partner organiations and agencies.
You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDFs on this page.
