The Safe System Approach is a holistic way to reduce both the likelihood and the severity of crashes.
People make mistakes that road engineering alone cannot prevent. This approach builds redundancy into the safety system. That way when one safety measure fails, there are others in place to prevent or reduce the severity of crashes.
There are six principles and five elements of the Safe System Approach (as shown in the graphics, below):
Six principles of the Safe System Approach
- Death and serious injury are unacceptable
- Humans make mistakes
- Humans are vulnerable
- Responsibility is shared
- Safety is proactive
- Redundancy is crucial
Five Elements of the Safe System Approach
Safer People
- Encourage safe, responsible behavior by people who use our roads.
- Create conditions that prioritize people's ability to reach their destination unharmed.
Safer Roads
- Design, maintain and operate roadways to help people make safe choices and reduce the impact of human mistakes.
Safer Vehicles
- Expand the availability of vehicle systems and features that help to prevent crashes and minimize the impact of crashes.
Safer Speeds
- Promote safer speeds in all roadway environments.
Post Crash Care
- Enhance the survivability of crashes through expedited access to emergency medical care.
- Create a safe working environment for vital first responders.
- Prevent secondary crashes through robust traffic incident management practices.
