711 S. Capitol Way, Suite 501, Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: 360-753-9480, FAX: 360-753-9889
Washington.fhwa@fhwa.dot.gov

Overview

The purpose of the Washington Division Office safety function is to improve highway safety; the promotion, coordination and transfer of safety technology; and good practices along with oversight of the various safety programs.This function is directly aligned to support the agency's strategic goal on safety.

Don Petersen.
Division Safety Engineer

Roadway safety in Washington State:
Typically, the State ranks well in terms of overall roadway safety. Our fatality rate for 2003, or number of roadway fatalities per 100 Million vehicle-miles-traveled, is below the national average at 1.2 (the national average is 1.5). The number of roadway fatalities in 2003 was 600 or about 9% less than the year before. The state is proactive when it comes to addressing safety issues out on the roadway. Installation of shoulder rumble strips and median cable guard rail is an example. But there are concerns a well. The safety of two-lane rural roads is an on-going problem across the nation and in Washington State. The Division Office has formed a team of statewide partners to address this problem.

FHWA Highway Safety Program:
Based on crash statistics, the FHWA has identified key vital areas in safety that it's programs and initiatives are to focus on. These areas include improving strategic safety management, and reducing the number of roadway departure, intersection, and pedestrian/bicycle fatalities and crashes. Links to these vital areas are provided below:

• Strategic Safety Management

Roadway Departure:
These consist of head-on, side-swipe, and run-off-road crashes: Suggested sites for countermeasures that may affect these crash types include:

• Rumble strips
• Retroreflectivity
• Roadside hardware
• Speed management
• Geometric Design

Intersection Safety

• Intersections

Pedestrian / Bicycle Safety

• Pedestrians/bicycle

The FHWA Headquarters Office of Highway Safety provides program and policy leadership for the agency.

• Safety
• NCHRP Report 350 - Roadside Hardware
• Rumble Strips Community of Practice
• Stop Red Light Running Program
• Pedestrian/bicycle Safety
• Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety
• International Highway Safety
• Work Zone Safety

Safety Research at the Turner Fairbanks Highway Research Center

The Millennium MUTCD

Washington State Safety Links

• Local Agency Safety Management System
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety
• Statewide Collision Record System
• Washington Traffic Safety Commission

Other Safety Related Links

• NHTSA's Safety Program
• Traffic Calming Program - City of Portland, Oregon
• Traffic Safety Quizzes - AAA Foundation
• Highway User's Guide to Driving Safely
• Moving Safely