The chance of being involved in a crash is always a concern. Photometric and Visibility Laboratory Human Centered Systems Studies Safety Management Assessments Primary Research Areas Intersections Intersection-related crashes account for more than 50 percent of the combined fatal and injury crashes each year. In this research, FHWA seeks to identify the most common and severe problems and to determine the most effective design configurations and treatments at both signalized and unsignalized intersections and at interchanges to improve intersection safety.
Every trip begins and ends with walking.
Development of the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model and the research in enhanced driver visibility are key study areas. With the repeal of the NMSL, there is renewed interest on how best to set and enforce speed limits. Speed management is a complex issue involving engineering and behavioral factors. This research is developing and testing engineering measures and technologies to manage speeds and encourage wider adoption of travel speeds appropriate for the class of road, roadway design, and travel conditions. The Visibility Program is directed towards research for near-term improvement of the visibility on and along the roadway and of traffic control devices to enhance the safety of road users.