“A Partnership to save lives and r es and reduce collisions educe collisions 

on county roads and city streets.”

I M P L E M E N T I N G

LOCAL AGENCY

SAFETY MANAGEMENT

How does the SMS work?

The SMS has two basic components: a collaborative 

information exchange network and an eight-element 

transportation safety decision support process.

The information network centers on the SMS Committee. The SMS Committee is a standing, cross-disciplinary advisory committee that meets regularly and 

includes representation from all major transportation 

safety stakeholders in the community. The Committee 

provides a permanent forum to identify transportation 

safety needs through a collaborative process and the 

potential resources to meet those needs. The regular 

meetings provide a forum to hear all voices, and a synergistic tool to identify creative solutions and leverage 

resources.

The SMS process emphasizes the relationship between 

drivers, vehicles, and roadways by integrating engineering, education, enforcement and emergency services 

into a safety programs architecture. The collaboration of engineering, enforcement, emergency services 

and education creates a broader safety networking 

resource for an agency and the community it serves.

The SMS relies on an 8-step systematic needs assessment process including feedback to evaluate the 

results of a safety program’s efforts and expenditures.

The feedback system completes the loop by creating a 

report or series of reports used by decision makers to 

identify policies to be changed, safety needs to emphasize, assumptions to be modified and funding needs to 

be increased or shifted.

For additional information about 

Safety Management Systems, contact 

Dave Sorensen at (360) 705-7385 or by email:

sorensd@wsdot.wa.gov

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/TA/T2Center/

Mgt.Systems/SafetyTechnology/

Prepared by

The Washington State 

Technology Transfer Center

Daniel L. Sunde, P.E.,

WST2 Technology Transfer Engineer

David Sorensen

WST2 Traffic Technology Engineer

10 POINT

“A Partnership to save lives and 

and city streets.”

 FHWA-SA-03-025

Kenneth Epstein, P.E.,

FHWA contact for Safety Management Systems.

Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety

(202) 366-2157 or by email:

kenneth.epstein@fhwa.dot.gov
What is a Safety Management System? 

A Safety Management System (SMS) gives decision makers and those 

who manage and maintain local roadways the tools to systematically 

identify, prioritize, correct,and evaluate the performance oftheir 

transportation safety investments. 

What is the goal of a Safety Management System? 

The goal of a SMS is to assist local agency engineers, managers, elected 

officials, and enforcement and emergency medical services personnel in 

their efforts to reduce both fatalities and the severity and frequency of 

collisions. 

Why is a Safety Management System a good idea? 

Collisions cause loss of life, injuries, and property damage. 

An average of 115 people died each day in motor vehicle crashes in 2001 

- one person every 12 minutes. 

A study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that the economic cost alone of motor vehicle 

crashes in 2000 was $230.6 billion. In 2001,42,116 people were killed in 

the estimated 6,323,000 police reported motor vehicle traffic crashes, 

3,033,000 people were injured, and 4,282,000 crashes involved property damage only. "These costs reflect wage loss from injuries, medical 

expenses, insurance administration costs, property damage, and claims 

for personal and property damage." 

For local agencies to mount a successful effort toward reducing motor 

vehicle collisions and their costs,an effective systematic approach must 

be taken. 

What are the benefits of a Safety Management System? 

The primary benefits of an SMS are saved lives and reduced injuries. 

Recognizing that"one size does not fit all,"the SMS is structured to allow 

each agency to implement the system within the agency's resource 

limitations and focus on the elements that are most appropriate for the 

agency's size, goals and priorities. 

Although the SMS might reside with a particular agency it is not agency 

focused. It is a collaborative, community-focused effort that takes into 

consideration more than the roadway. It also includes the vehicle and 

driver in determining safety needs and solutions,and treats emergency 

services, law enforcement,and education as equal players with engineering. 

The existence of a working, effective SMS tailored to local policy promotes a collaborative approach to development of sound safety practices. Looking beyond economics, an SMS provides a variety of other 

benefits no less important. An SMS can also increase the capability of 

reducing the number and severity of collisions by focusing attention on 

safety needs that will result in a higher payback. 

Other benefits include improved maintenance of safety investments and 

greater certainty that the highest priority needs are identified. 

INTEGRATING 

1. Local Policy 

DRIVER 

VEHICLE & 

ROADWAY 

Policy officially authorized and adopted by elected officials. Establishes operating guidelines and goals for service providers. 

2. Data Collection 

Data and information used in policy development, planning, designing, construction and maintenance of transportation facilities, 

vehicles,and driver education. 

3. Data Analysis 

Data and information processing through sorting, technical analysis, 

study, alternative mitigation analysis,and prioritization. 

4. System Output 

Conclusive data products, data analysis,and application of adopted 

policy. 

5. Decisions 

Budget and program adoption by elected officials, including all 

efforts toward safety during the following year. 

6. Project Implementation 

Execution of funded work efforts resulting in safety enhancements of all kinds. 

7. Monitoring Performance 

Measures and analyzes results, providing information 

from which out-year efforts are forecast & evaluated,and the work program is developed. 

8.Annual Safety Report 

Reports the results of safety system 

work efforts and expenditures.