Safety Planning

Transportation safety is a major concern in the Washington metropolitan region.  In 2005, 386 people were killed as the result of traffic accidents in the Washington region, and approximately 40,000 were injured. SAFETEA-LU puts a greater emphasis on safety, and added safety as a separate planning factor to be considered in the creation of the Plan and TIP.  Accordingly, the TPB is looking at additional ways to integrate safety into its planning process. 

Upcoming TPB safety planning activities that will enhance the consideration of safety in the overall transportation planning process include the following:

• Development of a regional profile of traffic safety, encompassing traffic injuries and fatalities for each mode and in each jurisdiction.
• Identification of regional traffic safety problems and trends
• Coordination of the State Strategic Highway Safety Plans
• Regional workshops and training to share best practices for various engineering, education,  and enforcement approaches to improving transportation safety
• Continuation of the “Street Smart” pedestrian and bicycle safety program.  The Street Smart campaign focuses on education through mass media, and is meant to improve safety by promoting safer behavior among drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. 

   
For more information on the Street Smart and other bicycle and pedestrian planning safety activities see the Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning section of the TPB website.