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FHWA Highway Safety Programs

Data-Driven Safety Decision Making

Beginning in 2016, the HSIP National Summary Report includes an evaluation of how states are using data-driven safety decision making to support their HSIP. This includes the States safety program administered under the HSIP and the methodologies states use to identify projects in each of these programs, as well as the amount of funds used for systemic improvements. On average, States obligated 40 percent of HSIP funds to address systemic improvements. The following sections and figures present information on State's safety programs and problem identification methodologies.

State Safety Programs Administered Under HSIP

States provide a brief overview of each program administered under the HSIP as part of their annual HSIP report. The HSIP Manual[3]defines a program as a group of projects (not necessarily similar in type or location) implemented to achieve a common highway safety goal. For example, some States have one program that includes all projects resulting from the HSIP planning component. Other States have multiple "sub" programs. An example of a "sub" program may be a skid treatment program designed to reduce wet-weather-related crashes at different locations. Some States also refer to "sub" programs as initiatives.

Figure 2 and Figure 3 present the number of State safety programs for the 2017 reporting period.  Most states have "Roadway Departure" (27 States) and "Intersection" (24 States) programs. Twenty-five states selected 48 programs in the "Other" category. Examples of programs in the "Other" category are: "pavement marking improvements", "longitudinal rumble strips", and "vulnerable road users".

Figure 2: This figure shows the number of state safety programs for the top 9 programs. The highest is Roadway Departure with over 25 states while the lowest is Skid Hazard with fewer than 15 states.
Figure 2: Number of State Safety Programs (top 9)

Figure 3: This figure shows the number of state safety programs for the bottom 9 programs. The highest is Bicycle Safety with over 10 states while the lowest is Red Light Running Prevention with fewer than 3 states.
Figure 3: Number of State Safety Programs (bottom 9)

Methodology Types for Selected Programs Administered Under HSIP

For each State safety program administered under the HSIP, a State can also indicate what project identification methodology (PIM) was used for each program, consistent with the 13 PIMs or performance measures defined in the Highway Safety Manual[4]. Figure 4 presents the number of times a particular PIM was selected by the States. Please note that a State can select more than one PIM for each safety program. "Crash frequency" was selected 212 times while "Excess expected crash frequency using methods of moments" was only selected 1 time. Examples of methodologies in the "Other" category are: "Collaboration with county engineers" and "Hierarchical Bayesian Model".

Figure 4: This figure shows the number of Project Identification Methodologies selected during this HSIP year. Crash frequency was by far the most commonly selected method, followed by crash rate.
Figure 4: Count of PIM selected for programs administered under HSIP