Federal Highway Administration
Nebraska Division
Background:
Over the past three decades, significant gains have been made in highway safety.
Fatality rates are now at their lowest recorded levels. For example, in 1960,
the United States experienced a fatality rate of 5.3 per 100 million vehicle miles
traveled; today the fatality rate stands at 1.7 -- a significant reduction. However,
recent data suggest safety gains in terms of rates will be more difficult to attain.
This is due to the increase in numbers of fatally injured persons and a leveling
off of vehicle miles traveled. Increased traffic congestion and aggressive driving
also pose serious concerns. Therefore, future highway safety efforts must be focused
on areas where there is the greatest potential for improvement. FHWA is involved
in a variety of safety programs and initiatives, including the following:
STP SAFETY SET ASIDE PROGRAM:
Under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, ten percent
of the Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds are set aside for carrying
out Section 130 (Railroad/Highway Crossings) and 152 (Hazard Elimination)
of Title 23, United States Code. Sections 130 safety projects are intended
to eliminate hazards to vehicles and pedestrians at rail-highway crossings.
Section 152 safety projects have the goal of reducing the number and severity
of highway crashes, or the potential for such crashes.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT CASE STUDIES:
A 1 and a half day workshop, entitled Case Studies of Highway Safety Management
Systems, is now available. The workshop highlights examples of best
safety management practices in various States.
READ YOUR ROAD PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM:
The newest FHWA safety product is a highway user's manual, entitled Read
Your Road (RYR). Developed with the idea that an informed motorist will
be a safer motorist, this user-friendly booklet includes information on roadway
signs, signals, and pavement markings. The FHWA is seeking partners to assist
in printing and distributing RYR to road users.
PEDESTRIAN ROAD SHOW:
The Pedestrian Road Show was developed in cooperation with the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It is designed to bring citizens and
community leaders together to solve their pedestrian problems. As part of
the Road Show, a trained pedestrian safety expert visits the community and
facilitates constructive dialogue among those attending. Any community with
pedestrian issues, such as safety and accessibility, can request a Road
Show.
WORK ZONE SAFETY PUBLIC AWARENESS PROJECT:
The project developing public education and outreach materials for work zone
safety campaigns is nearing completion. Designed as a partnership between
FHWA and several State departments of transportation, these materials will
be available at no cost to State and local governments.
ROAD SAFETY AUDITS:
The Road Safety Audit is a process wherein a team of independent
experts identify safety problems during project design or on existing roads.
This approach originated in the United Kingdom in the 1980's and is widely
used in Australia and New Zealand. Audit teams work to eliminate or change
problem features during the different phases of design. FHWA will pilot test
the road safety audit program in several States in 1998.
MANUAL ON UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES:
Road users rely upon traffic control devices to provide information about
traffic laws, potential hazards, and travel destinations. The primary document
used in the selection, design, operation and maintenance of traffic control
devices is the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). FHWA is
currently reformatting and rewriting the entire MUTCD.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ABOVE PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES, PLEASE CONTACT:
John J. Perry
Safety/Traffic Engineer
Federal Highway Administration - Nebraska Division.
Federal Building, Room 220
100 Centennial Mall North
Lincoln, NE 68508-3803
phone: (402)437-5974
fax: (402)437-5146
E-mail us
(402)437-5521
Federal Building, Room 220
100 Centennial Mall North
Lincoln, NE 68508-3803
NEBRASKA.FHWA@FHWA.DOT.GOV
Revised -- 5/10/00
HOME PAGE URL: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/nediv
