USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation
 Search DOT
            Search
                    About FHWAFHWA Organization
                Headquarters Offices
                Field Offices
                Strategic Plan
                Business Opportunities
                Staff Directories
                Careers
                Highway History
                Contact UsProgramsAcquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                Safety
                Browse by TopicsResourcesCore Highway Topics
                Federal Aid Essentials
                Automation
                Complete Streets
                Laws and Regulations
                Policy & Guidance Center
                Section 508
                Publications and Statistics
                Professional Development
                National Highway Institute
                Resource Center
                Accessibility Resource Library
                FHWA Research LibraryNewsroomPress Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Photos
                Videos
                Media ContactsMenu FHWA Highway Safety Programs Home
                        Safety
                        Safety Data Analysis & Tools


            
            In This Section
        Safety Data Analysis & Tools
                Crash Modification Factor Clearinghouse
                Roadway Safety Data Program (RSDP)
                                Overview
                Data Driven Safety Analysis
                Data Management
                Safety Data Analysis Tools
                Local Data Integration
                Technical Assistance
                Case Studies
                Training
                Resources
                Highway Safety Manual (HSM)
                Model Inventory of Roadway Elements (MIRE) and FDEs
                Systemic
                                Overview
                Why Systemic
                Training
                Resources
                Road Safety Audits
                                Overview
                Benefits
                Legal Issues
                Steps of Conduct
                Training
                Resources
      
   Contact Us
      Jerry Roche
      
                    
            Program Contact
      
                    
            FHWA Office of Safety
      
                
    **Email:**Jerry.Roche@dot.gov**Phone:** (515) 233-7323
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
                
                Highway Safety Manual: Overview Brochure
brochure.pdf (933.73 KB)
    
    
          Why a Highway Safety Manual?

Prior to this first edition of the HSM, there were no widely accepted tools for engineers to use to quantify the potential for reductions in crash frequency and severity when making transportation facility design and operations decisions. As a result, safety considerations often carried little weight in the project development process, limiting the ability of transportation professionals to discuss and act upon safety-related recommendations during project development. An effective resource was urgently needed to quantify and predict the expected crash frequency of elements considered in road planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance.

The HSM begins to fill this gap, providing transportation professionals with knowledge, techniques, and methodologies to quantify the safety-related effects of transportation decisions – similar to the way operational impacts are quantified in the Highway Capacity Manual and environmental impacts are calculated through the NEPA process. The HSM provides the best factual information and tools in a useful form to facilitate roadway decisions based on the explicit consideration of their effects on potential future crash frequency and severity.

Benefits include an improved decision-making process for applying safety treatments, resulting in potential cost savings to highway agencies. Time spent justifying a safety decision can be reduced by conducting a definitive, science-based analysis; and safety elements can be integrated in the most cost-effective manner in the project development process. In the end, the HSM provides tools to support improved traffic safety management and a reduction in the frequency and severity of traffic crashes.

What types of benefits are expected with its use?

Safety improvements
	Improve the decision-making process and effectiveness of countermeasures to reduce the number and severity of crashes.
	Cost savings
	Decisions can be made based on quantitative evaluations that predict crash reduction associated with improvements, instilling confidence that safety funds are being applied most effectively.
		Time spent justifying a safety decision will be reduced by conducting a definitive, science-based analysis.
		Integrate safety elements in the most cost-effective manner in the project development process.System Planning

Identify needs and program projects

HSM Application - Part B

Identify sites most likely to benefit from safety improvement
	Identify targeted crash patterns for the network
	Prioritize expenditures for efficiencyProject Planning & Preliminary Engineering

Identify alternatives and choose the preferred solution

HSM Application - Part B

Identify targeted crash patterns for the project
	Evaluate countermeasures’ costs and effectiveness
	Compare change in crash frequency to predict safety effect of alternativesDesign and Construction

Develop design plans and build projects

HSM Application - Part C

Evaluate how performance measures are impacted by design changes and construction
	Assess potential change in crash frequency during design exception evaluationOperations and Maintenance

Modify existing conditions to maintain and improve safe and efficient operation

HSM Application - Part B and C

Identify crash patterns at existing locations
	Evaluate safety effectiveness of potential countermeasures
	Modify policies and design criteria for future planning and designWhat are the contents?

**Part A - Introduction, Human Factors, and Fundamentals**
Chapter 1 – Introduction and Overview
Chapter 2 – Human Factors
Chapter 3 - Fundamentals

**Part B - Roadway Safety Management Process**
Chapter 4 – Network Screening
Chapter 5 – Diagnosis
Chapter 6 – Select Countermeasures
Chapter 7 – Economic Appraisal
Chapter 8 – Prioritize Projects
Chapter 9 – Safety Effectiveness Evaluation

**Part C - Predictive Method**
Chapter 10 – Rural Two-Lane Roads
Chapter 11 – Rural Multilane Highways
Chapter 12 – Urban and Suburban Arterials
Chapter 18 & Chapter 19 – Freeways

**Part D - Crash Modifi cation Factors**
Chapter 13 – Roadway Segments
Chapter 14 – Intersections
Chapter 15 – Interchanges
Chapter 16 – Special Facilities
Chapter 17 – Road Networks

Where can I find more information?

Purchase the HSM: http://bookstore.transportation.org

	Search under code HSM-1
		Discounts are available for those states taking HSM training
	IHSDM: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/tfhrc/projects/safety/comprehensive/ihsdm/
	Crash Modifi cation Factors Clearinghouse: http://www.cmfclearinghouse.org
	HSM Training Courses: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/rsdp/training.aspxFor more information, visit the Highway Safety Manual website at www.highwaysafetymanual.org U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000Subscribe to email updates
                    About
  

        
              About FHWA
                Careers
                Org Chart
                Staff Directories
                Work with UsPrograms
  

        
              Acquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                SafetyPolicies, Rights, Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Accessibility
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web StandardsNews & Events
  

        
              Newsroom
                Press Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Media Contacts
                Connect with Us