A Systemic Approach to Safety 

Using Risk to Drive Action 

The systemic approach to safety involves improvements 

that are widely implemented based on high-risk roadway features 

correlated with particular severe crash types. As the figure on the right 

illustrates, 57 percent of fatal crashes occur on rural roads, which are often 

part of the local system. Because these crashes are not evenly distributed 

across the many miles of rural roadways, it is often difficult to isolate 

high-crash locations for safety improvements. The systemic approach 

answers the question: 

Do all systems and crash types present equal 

opportunities for crash reduction, or do specific 

parts of the system and certain crash types offer a 

greater opportunity to save lives? 

Source: Cambridge Systematics, Inc. 

The Benefits of a Systemic Approach 

Several agencies implementing systemic improvements have reported 

staggering results in crash reductions. The systemic approach: 

Solves an Unmet Need in Transportation Safety 

A significant number of severe crashes are spread out over a wide area, particularly on rural and local roadways, and for specific 

crash types such as those involving vulnerable road users. These crashes are rarely identified through the traditional site analysis 

approach because it is difficult to isolate high-crash locations. The systemic approach provides state, regional, and local agencies 

an alternative method to address these crash types and fulfill a previously unmet need. 

Source: Cambridge Systematics, Inc. 

Uses a Risk-Based Approach to Prevent Crashes 

The systemic approach starts with a different premise for identifying safety problems, leading to 

a different set of projects. The systemic approach looks at crash history on an aggregate basis 

to identify high-risk roadway characteristics. While the traditional site analysis approach results 

in safety investments at high-crash locations, the systemic approach leads to widespread 

implementation of projects to reduce the potential for severe crashes.

Results in a Comprehensive Road Safety Program 

The systemic approach does not replace the site analysis approach. It is a complementary technique intended to supplement 

site analysis and provide a more comprehensive and proactive approach to safety management efforts. Reducing crashes 

at individual locations clearly requires continued attention. At the same time, the systemic approach aims to reduce the risk 

of and the potential for the occurrence of future crashes. 

Advances a Cost-Effective Means to Address Safety Concerns 

The systemic approach considers multiple locations with similar risk characteristics. When examining the system as a whole, 

a particular roadway element may have a high-crash experience, and it is more cost-effective to correct the problem on a 

systemwide basis rather than by individual high-crash location. 

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov 
How to Utilize the Systemic Approach 

The systemic approach is iterative and intended to be flexible and easy to apply to a variety of systems, locations, and 

crash types. Similar to the site analysis approach and most common safety management processes, the systemic planning 

approach involves problem identification, countermeasure identification, and project prioritization. 

Identify Target Crash Types/Risk Factors 

Review systemwide data and location characteristics to focus 

on specific crash types and associated risk factors. 

For example: 

Crash Type – Roadway departure crashes on rural two-lane 

highways various roadway features.
 

Risk Factors – Average daily traffic volumes, curve density,
 

access density.
 

Screen and Prioritize Candidate Locations 

Use the risk factors to screen the network and prioritize candidate locations 

for safety investments that will reduce the potential for future severe crashes. 

Select Countermeasures 

Evaluate countermeasures such to select those that address roadway departures on roads with the identified risk factors. 

For example: 

Rumble strips, cable median barriers, or advanced curve delineation.
 

Prioritize Projects 

Prioritize safety projects for implementation based on the risk-based assessment, available funding, other programmed 

projects, time to develop projects, and other considerations. 

Forging Ahead 

Source: Cambridge Systematics, Inc. 

“The systemic approach has offered the State of 

Minnesota another opportunity to further improve 

safety on our roadways by proactively addressing 

at-risk elements not typically identified through traditional approaches. This has given us a way to fund 

and build safety projects in rural Minnesota, which in 

the past did not qualify for safety investments due to 

the lack of identified “high-crash” locations.”

– Sue Groth, State Traffic Engineer, MnDOT 

Visit the Federal Highway Administration web site at 

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/systemic for additional information 

on the systemic approach to safety, including but not 

limited to the following: 

• Overview Fact Sheet 

• Systemic Safety Project Selection Tool 

• Case Studies and Examples 

• Narrated Presentation 

• Training and Technical Assistance 

FHWA-SA-15-054