Safety Resources
The safety-related resources are organized into three categories:
- Regional - DVRPC, New Jersey and Pennsylvania safety action plans;
- National - Important government safety agencies and selected safety research; and
- Other - Tools and information pertinent to safety planning from various sources.
Regional
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2009 Safety Action Plan: Improving Transportation Safety in the Delaware Valley
DVRPC's 2009 Safety Action Plan is a comprehensive plan to reduce traffic fatalities by addressing seven safety emphasis areas. The Safety Action Plan was developed with guidance from the multidisciplinary Regional Safety Task Force and is closely coordinated with the Pennsylvania and New Jersey strategic highway safety plans. The Safety Action Plan will be updated regularly. Analysis of crash data for the region is provided in the companion document Traffic Crash Analysis of the Delaware Valley. Also available is a set of seven cards summarizing the emphasis areas.
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Comprehensive Strategic Highway Safety PlanApproximately 750 people lose their lives every year on New Jersey's roadways with thousands more injured. This document identifies strategies and actions for reducing fatalities and injuries on New Jersey's roadways. |
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Pennsylvania Comprehensive Strategic Highway Safety Improvement PlanThe CSHSIP has been developed in order to identify priority Safety Focus Areas (SFAs) and strategies to reduce highway fatalities on Pennsylvania's roadways. This plan details how, by 2008, Pennsylvania will reach its goal of reducing fatalities by 400 lives per year using a comprehensive approach to highway safety improvement that employs our best thinking, resources, and partners. |
National
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
The FHWA is a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with field offices across the United States. FHWA is charged with the broad responsibility of ensuring that America's roads and highways continue to be the safest and most technologically up-to-date. Its annual budget of more than $30 billion is funded by fuel and motor vehicle excise taxes. The budget is primarily divided between two programs: Federal-aid funding to State and local governments; and Federal Lands Highways funding for national parks, national forests, Indian lands, and other land under Federal stewardship. A small selection of FHWA research and publications follow:
- FHWA Intersection Safety Measures Webinar
- FHWA Intersection Safety Strategies
- FHWA Low-Cost Safety Enhancements for Stop-Controlled and Signalized Intersections
- Crash Modification Factors
Crash Modification Factors (CMFs) are a set of resources developed by the FHWA to assist practitioners in their decision-making process. Plainly put, a CMF can tell you how many fewer total crashes can be expected from implementing specific countermeasures. Both proven and unproven countermeasures have been compiled by the FHWA in a searchable database at the clearinghouse website, which is available to the public free of charge.
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Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices 2003 EditionThe MUTCD contains standards for traffic control devices that regulate, warn, and guide road users along the highways and byways in all 50 States. Traffic control devices are important because they optimize traffic performance, promote uniformity nationwide, and help improve safety by reducing the number and severity of traffic crashes. |
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National Work Zone Safety Information ClearinghouseThe purpose of the clearinghouse is to provide information and referrals to government agencies, public and private organizations, and the general public concerning the safe and effective operation of traffic work zones. |
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Safer Journey for Pedestrians & BicyclesSafer Journey is an interactive CD that takes the user through various pedestrian and bicycle safety scenarios encountered every day across America. It has been developed to improve the level of pedestrian and bicycle knowledge for all road users (including schools, driver education groups, enforcement, etc.) and safety practitioners. |
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NCHRP Report 500-1, A Guide for Addressing Aggressive Driving CollisionsThis guide encourages a multidisciplinary approach that seeks solutions to the causes of aggressive driving and not just the addressing of its symptoms. |
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National Drunk Driving DatabaseImpaired driving continues to be one of the deadliest crimes in America. This site is designed to provide you with information and resources to fight drunk and drugged driving in your community. |
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NCHRP Report 500-6, A Guide for Addressing Run-Off-Road CollisionsReducing the likelihood that a vehicle will leave the roadway through roadway design (e.g., flattening curves or installing shoulder rumble strips) can prevent deaths and injuries resulting from Run-Off-Road crashes. When an errant vehicle does encroach on the roadside, fatalities and injuries can be reduced if an agency can either minimize the likelihood of the vehicle crashing into an object or overturning, or reduce the severity of the crash. |
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NCHRP Report 500-9, A Guide for Reducing Collisions Involving Older DriversOlder drivers represent a subset of the driving population that deserves special attention. Aging affects a variety of skills needed for safe driving. Many highway design and traffic control elements can be improved to better meet the aging population's physical, perceptual, and cognitive needs. In addition, motor vehicle departments, highway safety offices, medical professionals, and others can collaborate to help older adults extend their safe driving years. |
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NCHRP Report 500-11, A Guide for Increasing Seat Belt UseThis guide addresses means to increase the use of both seatbelts and child safety and booster seats, including the added objective of ensuring proper use of child safety seats according to the age and size of the child. |
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NCHRP Report 500-5, A Guide for Addressing Unsignalized Intersection CollisionsA key to improving intersection safety is to address safety problems at unsignalized intersections. This implementation guide provides guidance to highway agencies that want to implement safety improvements at unsignalized intersections and includes a variety of strategies that may be applicable to particular locations. |
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NCHRP Report 500-12, A Guide for Reducing Collisions at Signalized IntersectionsThis implementation guide provides guidance to highway agencies that desire to implement safety improvements at signalized intersections and includes a variety of strategies that may be applicable to particular locations. |
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NCHRP Report 500-10, A Guide for Reducing Collisions Involving PedestriansRecent experience and research has shown that a comprehensive approach is most effective in creating safer walking environments. Many pedestrian safety problems cannot be solved simply by addressing one of the "three Es" (engineering, education, enforcement) in isolation. Engineers, law enforcement, designers, planners, educators, and citizens should all play a role in identifying and implementing effective countermeasures for improving pedestrian safety. |
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC)
The TFHRC is a federally owned and operated research facility in McLean, Virginia. TFHRC is the home of the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA's) Office of Research, Development, and Technology. TFHRC provides FHWA and the world highway community with the most advanced research and development related to new highway technologies. Selected TFHRC research:
Safety Effectiveness of Intersection Left and Right Turn Lanes
Evaluation of Automated Pedestrian Detection at Signalized Intersections
The Effects of Innovative Pedestrian Signs at Unsignalized Locations
The Effects of Crosswalks on Vehicle Speeds
The Effects of Traffic Calming Measures on Pedestrian and Motorist Behavior
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Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and PedestriansProvides design recommendations to accommodate older drivers, and therefore all drivers, at intersections (at-grade), interchanges (grade-separated), roadway curvature and passing zones, construction/work zones and highway rail grade crossings. |
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Roundabouts: An Informational Guide, FHWA-RD-00-67, June 2000The purpose of this guide is to facilitate safe, optimal operation and designs that are both consistent at a national level and consequential for driver expectation and safety. Roundabout operation and safety performance are particularlysensitive to geometric design elements. Uncertainty regarding evaluation procedures can result in over-design and less safety. The "design problem" is essentially one of determining a design that will accommodate the traffic demand while minimizing some combination of delay, crashes, and cost to all users, including motor vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Evaluation procedures are suggested, or information is provided, to quantify and cost how well a design achieves each of these aims. |
American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing highway and transportation departments in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. It represents all five transportation modes: air, highways, public transportation, rail, and water. Its primary goal is to foster the development, operation, and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system. Selected AASHTO research:
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AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety PlanA comprehensive plan to substantially reduce vehicle-related fatalities and injuries on the nation's highways. |
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AASHTO Roadside Design GuideThis document presents a synthesis of current information and operating
practices related to roadside safety, from sign, signal and luminaire
supports to roadside barriers. |
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
NHTSA, the clearinghouse for safety-related information to the public, is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The agency's mission is to save lives, prevent injuries and reduce traffic-related health care and other economic costs. As such, NHTSA functions as both an information source and an investigatory body. The NHTSA web site contains links to crash statistics, vehicle and equipment recalls, laws/regulations and guidance, and vehicle safety research.
Other
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Pedestrian & Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool(PBCAT)Features:
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Traffic CalmingThis website contains a library of resources relating to traffic calming. The Traffic Calming Library contains a searchable databaseof reports, articles and other documents related to traffic calming. |
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Insurance Institute of Highway Safety Report on Reducing Red Light RunningMany drivers routinely run red lights, placing themselves and other road users at risk for crashes and serious injuries. Two principal methods used to reduce red light running involve lengthening the duration of yellow change intervals and automated red light enforcement. |