National Highway Safety Program Effectiveness

Lasting cost-effective improvements in the safety of public travel is accomplished by reducing hazards along our Nation's highways. Since 1964, –4.9 billion in Federal highway funds have been obligated for safety improvements. In 1973, Congress provided Federal funds exclusively for highway improvements, requiring that these improvements be evaluated and the results reported. The 1977 Annual Highway Safety Improvement Report shows that a fatal accident is forestalled for each investment of –112,000 in the Rail-Highway Crossing Program, –90,000 in the High-Hazard Locations Program, –37,000 in the Roadside Obstacles Program or –47,000 in the Safer Roads Demonstration Program. The 1976 National Highway Safety Needs Report shows a potential to forestall a fatality for each –77,600 invested in the 10 top highway safety counter-measures. Engineers must assure effective use of highway safety improvement funds through systematically identifying problems, implementing countermeasures, and evaluating results.