Traffic & Safety

An SHSP is a statewide-coordinated safety plan that provides a comprehensive framework for reducing highway fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. The SHSP establishes statewide goals, objectives and key emphasis areas developed in consultation with federal, state, local and private sector safety stakeholders.

Key characteristics of SHSP:

• Includes consultation from a variety of stakeholders during the development process.
• Analyzes and makes effective use of crash data.
• Addresses the 5Es plus management and operations. (The 5Es are engineering, enforcement, education, emergency services and everyone.)
• Considers the safety needs of all public roads.
• Describes a program of projects or strategies to reduce or eliminate safety hazards.
• Is implemented and evaluated.

WHAT IS A VULNERABLE ROAD USER ASSESSMENT

The Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment is an assessment of the safety performance of the state of Iowa with respect to vulnerable road users and the plan of the state of Iowa to improve the safety of vulnerable road users. It is required by law and is described under 23 U.S.C. 148(1).

The assessment is driven by demographic and performance-related data developed in consultation with local governments that represent high-risk areas. This assessment is used to identify areas of high risk to vulnerable road users, and then utilize that assessment to drive strategy and investment decisions around further safety improvements to mitigate identified safety risks.

VRU Safety Assessment Goals

• Identify areas of higher risk for bicyclist and pedestrian crashes
• Provide insight on areas of necessary infrastructure improvements on Iowa roads
• Further the objective of achieving zero fatalities on the nation’s Roads