Local and Rural Road Safety Program
Local highway agencies often do not have the resources needed to adequately address safety problems on the roads they maintain. The FHWA Local and Rural Safety Program provides national leadership in identifying, developing, and delivering safety programs and products to local and officials and governments to improve highway safety on local and rural 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 57 percent of fatalities. According to recent data, 23,260 people were killed in rural crashes in 2007 and the fatality rate for rural crashes is more than twice the fatality rate in urban crashes.
- Crash Facts
- Funding, Policy and Guidance
- Training, Tools, Guidance and Countermeasures for Locals
- Safety Programs
- Partners and Resources
Crash Facts
- Rural/Urban Comparison Traffic Safety Fact Sheet (DOT-HS-810-996) [PDF - 792 KB] NEW RELEASE 4/23/09
Funding, Policy and Guidance
- Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
- General HSIP Information
- High Risk Rural Road Program (HRRRP)
- Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)
- Policy and Guidance
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.
- Training and Education
- Road Safety Audits
- Tools and Technology
- 9 Proven Countermeasures
- Road Safety Tools for Local Agencies [PDF - 4.91 MB]
- Transportation Safety Planning
- Roadway Safety Guide [PDF - 863 KB]
- Implementing Local Safety Management
- Pedestrian Safety Campaign Tool Kit
- Rural Highway Safety Clearinghouse
- New Vegetation Control for Safety – A Guide for Local Highway and Street Maintenance Personnel
- New W-Beam Guardrail Repair – A Guide for Highway and Street maintenance Personnel
- Safety Circuit Rider Best Practices Guide - Coming Soon
Safety Programs
- Intersection Program
- Roadway Departure Program
- Speed Management Program
- Pedestrian and Bicyclist Program
- Nighttime Visibility Program
- Older Driver Program
- Rural Safety Innovation Program
Partners and Resources
- National Association of County Engineers
- Local Technical Assistance Program
- Governors Highway Safety Association
- American Public Works Association
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Center for Excellence in Rural Safety (CERS)
- National Association of Development Organizations Rural Transportation web site
- American Traffic Safety Services Association
- Roadway Safety Foundation
- National Association of Towns and Townships
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