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FHWA Highway Safety Programs

Legislative Safety Programs

The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is a core Federal-aid program with the purpose to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, including non-State-owned roads and roads on tribal land. The HSIP requires a data-driven, strategic approach to improving highway safety on all public roads with a focus on performance.

The HSIP is legislated under Section 148 of Title 23, United States Code (23 U.S.C. 148) and regulated under Part 924 of Title 23, Code of Federal Regulations (23 CFR Part 924). The HSIP consists of three main components, the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), State HSIP or program of highway safety improvement projects and the Railway-Highway Crossing Program (RHCP), In addition, some states also have a High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) program if they had increasing fatality rate on rural roads. Click here to view a short video about the HSIP.

Additional information on each of these program components can be found by clicking the links at the left or the icons below.

Integrating the Safe System Approach with the Highway Safety Improvement Program

This report describes the principles and core elements of the Safe System approach, and examines foundational elements of the HSIP, State SHSP, and State HSIP as compared to the Safe System principles and presents areas of alignment, as well as opportunities and noteworthy practices. The report concludes with a discussion of next steps for Federal and State safety stakeholders to advance implementation of the Safe System approach through these existing safety programs.