Development of Safe Systems Approach Training Curriculum for State and Local Transportation Agencies

Research Lead: Offer Grembek

UC Campus(es): UC Berkeley

Problem Statement: The California Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) is a statewide data-driven traffic safety plan that coordinates the efforts of a wide range of organizations to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads across all travel modes. In coordination with federal, state, and local governments, and the private sector, the SHSP establishes goals and objectives, identifies key safety needs, and guides investment decisions that provide the greatest potential to achieve the state’s commitment to safety. Currently, over 580 safety stakeholders from over 230 public and private agencies and organizations have worked on or provided input to this effort. In summer 2020, state transportation leaders recognized that a bolder and more focused approach to road safety was necessary and the SHSP has identified the implementation of a Safe Systems Approach (SSA) as a core part of the state’s efforts to provide safe mobility for California road users. SSA aims to eliminate fatal and serious injuries for all road users through a holistic view of the roadway system. While SSA is well established, it is a relatively new approach among practitioners in California. In turn, state and local transportation agencies will need training and support to successfully implement SSA and ultimately improve the safety of all road users in California.

Project Description: This project will support the development of the planning phase for SSA training curriculum to serve state and local agencies in California. Agencies will be able to build upon and adapt the curriculum to support in-house training.

Status: In Progress

Budget: $50,000