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
                        HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series


            
            In This Section
        Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
                                Overview
                About
                Planning
                Implementing
                Evaluating
                Reporting
                Noteworthy Practices
                Legislation and Guidance
                Resources
                HSIP Special Rules
                Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)
                                Overview
                About
                Develop
                Implement
                Evaluate
                Promote
                Legislation and Guidance
                Resources
                Noteworthy Practices
                Safety Performance Measure
                                Overview
                State Safety Performance Targets
                Policy & Guidance
                Fact Sheets & Informational Webinars
                Target-Setting Resources
                Safety Data Resources
                State Safety Reports
                Safety Contacts
                Technical Assistance & Training
                Railway Highway Crossing Program
                                Overview
                Policy and Guidance
                Resources
                
                Safety Data Collection, Analysis, and Sharing
The Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) provides a data-driven framework for highway safety stakeholders to identify key safety needs, guide investment decisions, and align and leverage collective resources. The purpose of a data-driven process is to direct resources to projects and programs with the greatest potential for reducing fatalities and serious injuries. The strength of the SHSP and other safety plans lies in a state’s ability to collect, analyze, and share safety data as appropriate.

A variety of strategies can be employed to collect quality data, perform analysis, and ensure safety stakeholders can access the data and the analysis. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) section 408 grants provide funding to improve timeliness, accuracy, uniformity, completeness, integration, and accessibility of safety data. Projects to improve data collection and analysis may also be eligible for Federal HSIP funding. In some states, multiple agencies provide funding for data collection and management through interagency agreements.

Data are analyzed to identify and prioritize safety problems, establish goals and objectives, select strategies and countermeasures, and develop action plans. They are also analyzed to monitor and evaluate results, and provide feedback into the planning process. Analysis can involve simple statistical investigations of crash trends, types, and contributing factors, or sophisticated tools such as SafetyAnalyst and the Highway Safety Manual.

In many cases, safety data are unavailable or unknown. Information in police crash reports may vary among localities. Medical records, insurance records, and licensing information may not be available or linked to the crash data; and roadway inventory information may be limited and difficult to link to the crash data system. These and other data quality problems inhibit the effectiveness of efforts to improve transportation safety. However, access to timely and accurate safety data is critical for successful SHSP implementation.

A variety of programs and departments receive safety data from the state agency or department maintaining the data. Local governments, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO), advocacy groups, and private consultants generally request crash data to conduct various planning activities and projects. The agency maintaining the data may provide raw or filtered datasets that can be readily used by local agencies. Access to reliable data for all stakeholders enables them to more effectively address safety in their transportation and safety plans, and helps foster collaboration among stakeholders.

Noteworthy Practices

The following cases demonstrate noteworthy practices several states are using to share SHSP data with stakeholders:

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LDOTD) is among the first DOTs to hire a Law Enforcement Expert (LEE) dedicated to working with law enforcement agencies on improving crash data collection. The LEE works statewide and reviews crash reports to identify and resolve potential issues with crash report completion in the various jurisdictions. Louisiana’s crash data accuracy and completeness has improved through the use of the LEE and has led to better informed decision-making in the State’s efforts to improve safety. The LEE is also involved with SHSP implementation and helps keep regional teams focused on the data driven approach for focusing on the emphasis areas and potential countermeasures and strategies. (read more)
	The Minnesota DOT (MnDOT) recently embarked on a statewide initiative to create a roadway safety plan for each of the State’s 87 counties. These plans build on the foundation established by Minnesota’s SHSP, but utilize a data analysis approach geared toward identifying a specific set of safety projects directly linked to the causation factors associated with the most severe crashes on each county’s highway system. The data driven process established for county safety plans has helped position counties to more effectively compete for safety funds and make improvements on local roadways with greater potential to reduce the number of fatal and serious injury crashes. (read more)
	The New Jersey DOT (NJDOT) contracted with the Rutgers University Transportation Safety Resource Center (TSRC) to develop a roadway safety decision support tool for safety stakeholders. The web-based software tool supporting collection, analysis, and distribution of transportation safety data has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the SHSP. The approximately 500 agencies using the analysis software enjoy easy access to transportation safety data and can perform analyses to support their local safety initiatives as well as those at the state level. (read more)To access these full case studies, click on the individual links above or visit the FHWA Office of Safety on-line at: www.fhwa.dot.gov/safety/legislative-safety-programs/hsip
      
  Law Enforcement Expert for Improved Data Collection – Louisiana
                Data Analysis for County Highway Safety Plans – Minnesota
                Data Sharing and Decision Support Tool – New JerseyBook traversal links for Safety Data Collection, Analysis, and Sharing
      ‹ University Conducting HSIP Project Evaluations Using Empirical Bayes – Wisconsin
                    Up
                    Law Enforcement Expert for Improved Data Collection – Louisiana ›
                
                Book:HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series
              HSIP Project Identification
                                Safety Warrants and Spot Safety Index – North Carolina
                Implementation of Systemwide Improvements – Missouri
                Funding Goals for Proactive Improvements – Minnesota
                Development of SPFs for All State Routes and Intersections – Illinois
                Level of Service of Safety and Diagnostic Analysis – Colorado
                HSIP Project Evaluation
                                Project Evaluations Using Empirical Bayes – Colorado
                Crash Reduction Analysis System Hub – Florida
                Safety Evaluation Group – North Carolina
                University Conducting HSIP Project Evaluations Using Empirical Bayes – Wisconsin
                Safety Data Collection, Analysis, and Sharing
                                Law Enforcement Expert for Improved Data Collection – Louisiana
                Data Analysis for County Highway Safety Plans – Minnesota
                Data Sharing and Decision Support Tool – New Jersey
                SHSP Stakeholder Involvement
                                Statewide and Regional SHSP Coalitions – Missouri
                SHSP Road Shows – Nevada
                Engaging Native American Tribes in the SHSP – Washington
                MPO Safety Management Planning – Cheyenne, Wyoming
                Revisiting SHSP Emphasis Areas
                                Focusing on Fewer Emphasis Areas – West Virginia
                Tiered Emphasis Areas for Statewide and County Safety Planning – Washington
                Speeding and Aggressive Driving and Distracted Driving Task Forces – Louisiana
                Use of the HSIP Flexible Funding Provision
                                Alabama Flexes HSIP Funds for Increased Enforcement – Alabama
                Michigan Uses HSIP Flex Funds for Winter Safe Driving Campaign – Michigan
                Nevada Funds Education and Outreach Programs with HSIP Flex Funds – Nevada
                Utah Flexes HSIP Funds to Enhance Partners’ Safety Efforts – Utah
                SHSP – Leadership that Saves Lives
                SHSP – Get Involved! 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