Strategic Highway Safety Plans (SHSP) are a true success story. 

Since these plans were first required by legislation in 2005, 

traffic fatalities have dramatically declined. In fact, over the 

past 10 years there has been a reduction of nearly 25 percent 

in the number of fatalities on our Nation’s roadways.1 One of 

the key reasons SHSPs succeed is effective leadership. Strong 

leaders have drawn attention to the complex safety problems 

that afflict our nation’s roadways. Leaders also are instrumental 

in establishing a statewide safety culture and turning the priorities and strategies in SHSPs into reality.

What Can Safety Leaders Do? 

Know and Promote Your Safety Priorities 

Emphasis areas in the SHSP represent the most critical safety concerns within a State and are matched with strategies and 

action steps for eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries. This is an excellent starting point to focus leadership 

support. For instance, if work zone safety is an emphasis area, then a leader could champion a Work Zone Safety Week 

every year to bring awareness to the issue. Being visible, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about safety issues identified 

in the SHSP generates and sustains continued motivation among all safety partners.

Get Your Partners Involved 

Leaders should ensure there is an organization, agency, or individual who is responsible for implementing the strategies 

and actions in the SHSP. Keep in mind it is just as important to have the “right” person on-board as the right organization. 

Take time to explore who will truly be a champion and get the job done. Leaders also should make sure action plans 

include timelines, potential options for funding and resources, and any formal agreements that are necessary to reinforce 

safety stakeholders’ commitment to saving lives. If one of the partners is reluctant to jump on-board, it may be necessary 

to meet one-on-one to explain the critical role each agency or organization plays in safety. 

Keep Your Partners Energized

It is not always easy to get people involved, but it can be even harder to keep people involved and energized. It helps to 

maintain regular communication with partners through various communication channels (such as newsletters, web sites, 

meetings, emails, etc.). Take the opportunity to share the results of SHSP efforts and celebrate successes. Do not underestimate how a leader’s position, personality, and prestige motivate others to join—and stay on—the journey. 

1 NHTSA (2014). 2013 Motor Vehicle Crashes: An Overview, DOT HS 812 101, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C., 

December 2014.

The Focus is Results

“Maintaining a safe and efficient transportation system 

is the goal for every State department of transportation, 

but we realize we cannot effectively achieve that goal 

on our own. That is why involvement in the SHSP is so 

valuable. It gives transportation agencies an opportunity 

to actively work with and involve safety partners from 

throughout the State to achieve meaningful reductions in 

traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries.”

Malcolm Dougherty, Director

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) 

Strategic Highway

Safety Plan

Leadership that Saves Lives
Organize for Success 

Become a champion for the statewide safety goal by spreading the message throughout the State. For example, at the completion of an SHSP update process, leaders can hold a press conference to announce the safety goal and continue to communicate 

safety issues at other speaking engagements. In addition, leaders 

should encourage agencies and partners to incorporate elements of 

the SHSP into other planning documents, which ensures funding is 

available for implementation. As appropriate, the emphasis areas 

and strategies in the State’s SHSP should be incorporated in the 

State’s Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), Highway 

Safety Plan (HSP), and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan (CVSP), 

as well as long-term planning documents such as the Statewide 

Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), the Long-Range 

Transportation Plan. 

Maximize Resources 

A leader should help identify all revenue, personnel, and technical 

resources available for statewide safety initiatives, and influence allocation to optimize safety benefits. By working with other safety partners, 

a leader is able to combine resources and technical knowledge to 

advance safety. There are opportunities to use State, HSIP, and other 

safety funds, i.e., NHTSA highway safety grants, which also can serve 

as incentives to attract and maintain partnerships. 

Eliminate Roadblocks 

Leaders are in a unique position to remove barriers and overcome 

institutional boundaries within and between agencies and organizations. Many States have created an SHSP Executive Committee 

comprised of leaders from SHSP partner agencies and organizations. Arranging for these leaders to meet—usually once or twice a 

year—creates buy-in and support at all levels, breaks down barriers, supports SHSP implementation, and can result in new and 

innovative ideas and approaches. 

Leading a safety effort is a difficult task, but there are resources available to help every step of the way. The Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA) is located in every State plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Please contact them to learn how 

they can help. 

The Focus is Results

FHWA Division Offices

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/field.html

You also can visit the SHSP Community of Practice for SHSP information and resources.

http://rspcb.safety.fhwa.dot.gov/shsp_cop.aspx

Highway Safety Improvement 

Program Data Driven Decisions

Pub #: FHWA-SA-15-049 SHSP

FHWA Office of Safety

202-366-2288

hsip@dot.gov

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov

Leadership In Action

• In Arizona, the SHSP established an executivelevel partnership between seven agencies at the 

Director level. This Executive Committee (EC) 

meets regularly and provides consistent and visible support throughout the SHSP process. 

• Vermont has created the Vermont Highway Safety 

Alliance (VHSA), which collaboratively promotes 

SHSP strategies to reduce crashes on Vermont’s 

public highways through the development and 

support of partnerships and coalitions. 

• California’s SHSP Executive Leadership has 

identified several key policy initiatives, including 

promoting traffic safety culture, and increasing 

involvement of regional, local, and Tribal agencies. 

• In Michigan, leaders from the member agencies of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory 

Commission (GTSAC) also are represented on 

SHSP emphasis area action teams.