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                An Introduction to the Highway Safety Manual
**Description:**
        This tool is a primer that introduces readers to the AASHTO Highway Safety Manual (HSM). The intended audience is anyone that is interested in learning about using the HSM, including State and local agencies responsible for owning, designing, or maintaining highways. The primer provides a complete overview of the HSM. The document explains what the HSM is, how it can be used in highway agencies, data requirements, and resources for getting started. Readers will also find example calculations illustrating the use of network screening and predictive methods that are documented in the HSM
    
          **Tool Type:**
        Informational Guide
    
    
    
          **Owner Source:**
        organization
    
          **Sponsor/Owner:**
        American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
    
        **Published:**
      2010
    
        **Availability:**
      The guide is available free of charge at the following link: An Introduction to the Highway Safety Manual.
    
          **Disclaimer:**
        This information is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained herein. This information does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturer's names appear in this information only because they are considered essential to the objective of this publication.
          Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations, and translations thereof, expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Highway Administration. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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