Highway Safety Manual

A new generation of highway safety analysis tools is being deployed to the transportation community through several innovative research efforts. The Highway Safety Manual (HSM) is published by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO). FHWA has developed supporting implementation tools including the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM) and the Crash Modification Factors (CMF) Clearinghouse. These tools will greatly advance state and local highway agencies' ability to incorporate explicit, quantitative consideration of safety into their planning and project development decision making.

The first edition of the HSM provides the best factual information and tools in a useful form to facilitate roadway planning, design, operations, and maintenance decisions based on precise consideration of their safety consequences. The primary focus of the HSM is the introduction and development of analytical tools for predicting the impact of transportation project and program decisions on road safety.

AASHTO’s Highway Safety Manual Webpage

AASHTO’s Highway Safety Manual webpage, highwaysafetymanual.org, serves as the official HSM website where you can find the most up to date information and new developments on the HSM.

HSM Outreach Materials
HSM Technical Support
Guidance
HSM Training
Case Studies
HSM Data Support
HSM Tools
Additional Resources

HSM Outreach Materials

• HSM Overview Brochure
• HSM Overview Fact Sheet
• An Introduction to the Highway Safety Manual (Primer)

HSM Technical Support

• Post questions to HSM User Discussion Forum
• Email questions to info@highwaysafetymanual.org

Guidance

• HSM Managers Guide
• HSM Integration Guide
• State Policies and Procedures on Use of the Highway Safety Manual
  The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently released State Policies and Procedures on the Use of the Highway Safety Manual (HSM), an informational report for States developing policies and procedures on use of the HSM in transportation planning and programming, engineering and design, operations and maintenance, and roadway safety management. The report provides noteworthy examples of existing language in States’ policy documents and procedures manuals as well as sample policy and procedures language. The HSM provides methods for estimating safety performance that help practitioners, managers, and executives effectively implement strategies to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes.

  You can find additional FHWA information resources to help implement the HSM at the Roadway Safety Data Program. FHWA’s Every Day Counts Data-Driven Safety Analysis Initiative offers State and local agencies technical assistance and training in implementing the HSM; for additional information.

HSM Training

• FHWA HSM Training Courses
• Resource Center Webinars
• HSM Training Guide

HSM Case Studies

• Case Study 1: Using Predictive Methods for a Corridor Study in Idaho
• Case Study 2: Implementing a New Roadway Safety Management Process with AASHTOWare Safety Analyst™ in Ohio
• Case Study 3: Using Predictive Methods for Alternative Selection in Florida
• Case Study 4: Development of Safety Performance Functions for Network Screening in Illinois
• Case Study 5: HSM Implementation Plans – New Hampshire DOT Experience

HSM Related Tools

• AASHTOWare Safety Analyst™ includes tools to implement many of the roadway safety management procedures that will be presented in Part B of the forthcoming Highway Safety Manual (HSM).
• Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM) - providing a predictive methods tool for project specific designs.
• Crash Modification Factors (CMF) Clearinghouse houses a web-based database of CMFs along with supporting documentation to help transportation engineers identify the most appropriate countermeasure for their safety needs.

Additional Resources

• HSM Information Contacts

  Resource	Contact Info
  AASHTO HSM Information http://www.highwaysafetymanual.org	Kelly Hardy, AASHTO khardy@aashto.org 202-624-5868
  FHWA HSM Information http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/hsm/	Jerry Roche jerry.roche@dot.gov 515-233-7323
  FHWA Resource Center Safety and Design Team	Gene Amparano, FHWA Resource Center gene.amparano@dot.gov 816-329-3909
  NHI Training Information http://nhi.fhwa.dot.gov	Tom Elliott, FHWA-NHI thomas.elliott@dot.gov 703-235-0544
  AASHTOWare Safety Analyst™ Information http://www.safetyanalyst.org	Vicki Schofield, AASHTO vschofield@aashto.org 202-624-3640
  IHSDM Information http://www.ihsdm.org	Abdul Zineddin abdul.zineddin@dot.gov 202-493-3288
  CMF Clearinghouse Information http://www.cmfclearinghouse.org	Karen Scurry, FHWA karen.scurry@dot.gov 609-637-4207
  Future HSM Development and Feedback http://safetyperformance.org	Mark Bush, TRB mbush@nas.edu 202-334-1646

• HSM Data Support: Safety analytical processes and tools are only as reliable as the data that is used to populate them. For tools, resources, and assistance to address data needs, refer to Data Collection, Data Management, and Technical Assistance.
• The FHWA Office of Safety offers technical assistance on all aspects of safety data, including collection, analysis, and management; the Highway Safety Manual and the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model; and safety performance functions.