Where can i fi nd more information?

• Purchase the HSM: 

http://bookstore.transportation.org

 - Search under code HSM-1 

 - Cost: $325 (Members), 

$390 (Non-members)

 - Discounts are available for those states 

taking HSM training 

• IHSDM: 

http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/ihsdm/ihsdm.htm 

• SafetyAnalyst: 

 http://www.safetyanalyst.org 

• Crash Modifi cation Factors Clearinghouse: 

http://www.cmfclearinghouse.org 

• HSM Training Courses: 

 http://nhi.fhwa.dot.gov

An Overview of the

HigHWay 

Safety 

Manual

For more information, visit the 

Highway Safety Manual website at 

www.highwaysafetymanual.org

What 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

Part D - Crash Modifi cation Factors

Chapter 13 – Roadway Segments

Chapter 14 – Intersections

Chapter 15 – Interchanges

Chapter 16 – Special Facilities

Chapter 17 – Road Networks
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 efficiency

Project 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 alternatives

Operations 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 design

Design 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 evaluation

Highway Safety Manu