Memorandum

SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

Subject: INFORMATION: Promoting and 

Implementing the Updated Proven Safety 

Countermeasures

Date: October 27, 2021 

From: Michael S. Griffith In Reply Refer To:

Director, Office of Safety Technologies HSST

To: Division Administrators

Director of Field Services 

Federal Lands Highway Division Directors 

Safety Field 

Thirteen years ago, FHWA launched the Proven Safety Countermeasures initiative 

(PSCi) as a collection of countermeasures and strategies effective in reducing highway 

fatalities and serious injuries on our nation’s highways. The US Department of 

Transportation and FHWA are committed to enhancing the safety and performance of 

our highways by accelerating the development and deployment of promising 

technologies and practices. 

FHWA’s Office of Safety has updated the PSCi for the fourth time to include nine new 

Proven Safety Countermeasures (PSCs). Through this update and the existing 

countermeasures, we continue to reinforce the need to enhance safety for all road 

users. Every highway project is an opportunity to make it safer for motorists, 

pedestrians, bicyclists, and all other users. 

The PSCs align with the Safe System Approach which recognizes that, while human 

beings make mistakes and crashes are inevitable, the consequences of those mistakes 

should not result in death or serious injury. With these principles in mind, the PSCs 

incorporate elements that separate users in space and time, manage speeds, mass, and 

impact force angles, increase attentiveness, and reduce complexity of the design and 

operation of our transportation system. Through the PSCi, we have an opportunity to 

advance Safe System infrastructure countermeasures and strategies that anticipate 

human error and accommodate human injury tolerances. 

This fourth iteration of proven safety countermeasures includes the following new 

PSCs: 

1. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB)

2. Crosswalk Visibility Enhancements

3. Bicycle Lanes
2

4. Lighting (Intersections and Segments)

5. Pavement Friction Management (High Friction Surface Treatments and 

Continuous Pavement Friction Measurement)

6. Wider Edge Lines

7. Variable Speed Limits

8. Speed Safety Cameras

9. Appropriate Speed Limits for All Road Users

Like previous countermeasures added to the list, these are countermeasures that are 

proven to be effective through sound research and are currently at the early stages of 

implementation. FHWA is providing leadership of these countermeasures to give them 

greater visibility given their limited use and is requesting State and local highway 

agencies to consider them where appropriate. With the newest additions, there are now 

28 different PSCs transportation agencies can advance in their jurisdiction, with the 

confidence that their implementation will reduce fatalities and serious injuries as they 

align with the Safe System Approach. The cumulative list is diverse and broad, and 

each PSC addresses at least one safety focus area – speed management, intersections, 

roadway departures, or pedestrians/bicyclists – while others are crosscutting strategies 

that address multiple safety focus areas. There are countermeasures that can be 

implemented to improve multimodal safety and accessibility to ensure equity and can be 

applied to a variety of contexts including rural roads and urban streets. Please note 

there are many other effective countermeasures that also should be considered and 

information about the effectiveness of the full range of different safety countermeasures 

can be found at the Crash Modification Factors clearinghouse (cmfclearinghouse.org).

I encourage you to visit the Office of Safety’s Proven Safety Countermeasure initiative 

website (https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/provencountermeasures/) which has been updated 

with enhanced functionality and features to assist practitioners with identifying 

applicable countermeasures that meet their needs. The handouts for the existing PSCs 

have also been updated to reflect the latest research, applications, and considerations for 

implementation. We will also provide technical assistance and training to your Offices 

and State and local highway agencies regarding these PSCs. If you have questions 

regarding the Proven Safety Countermeasures initiative, please contact Phillip Bobitz, 

Office of Safety Technologies, at phillip.bobitz@dot.gov or (717) 221-4574.