A design exception is a documented decision to design a highway element or segment of highway to a design criterion or value that does not meet the minimum value that has been established for that highway or project…Over the years, formal design exceptions review and approval protocols have served State DOTs and FHWA well by assuring appropriate effort and thought has been applied to the design problem and its solution. It is the documentation (or lack thereof) of design decisions and design exceptions specifically that address risk and risk management.
– From Design Exceptions
