**GAO-09-35**                      Published: Nov 21, 2008. Publicly Released: Nov 21, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

 

About 43,000 people died and another 290,000 were seriously injured on the nation's roads in 2006. To reduce these numbers, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) nearly doubled funding for the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). SAFETEA-LU added requirements for states to develop strategic highway safety plans that include four key elements and to publicly report on at least the top 5 percent of hazardous locations on all of their public roads. The act also set aside funds for a legacy rail-highway crossing program and a new high-risk rural road program. As requested, GAO examined (1) states' implementation of HSIP following SAFETEA-LU, (2) HSIP results to date, and (3) FHWA's guidance and assistance to states. GAO analyzed plans from 25 states, including 19 randomly selected states and 6 states that GAO visited. GAO also interviewed FHWA and state safety officials.

 

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## Topics

Transportation

Accident preventionComparative analysisData integrityFederal aid for highwaysFederal fundsGround transportationHighway safetyMotor vehicle safetyPublic roads or highwaysRailroad crossoversReporting requirementsRequirements definitionRisk assessmentRisk managementRural roadsSafety standardsState highwaysState-administered programsStrategic planningTraffic accidentsTransportation safetyProgram implementation