Baseline Road

The California State Transportation Agency in the US has launched the next phase of its strategic highway safety plan (SHSP) in an attempt to further reduce fatalities and severe injuries from collisions on public roadways.

Created by stakeholders of 170 public agencies and private organisations, the updated SHSP is a result of the requirements outlined under the federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).

The act urges all states to update their SHSPs to expand the scope beyond highways to include all public roads and increase focus on safety for users of all forms of transportation, including bicyclists and pedestrians.

"California’s SHSP is a national model for how federal, state, and local governments can work best in partnership with transportation and safety experts and stakeholders."

Jointly designed by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials and the US Federal Highway Administration, the SHSP is used to develop strategies related to safety.

In particular, the blueprint helps states recognise their safety challenges and invest in the most potential strategies to improve road safety.

Federal Highways Administration Safety associate administrator Tony Furst said: "California’s SHSP is a national model for how federal, state, and local governments can work best in partnership with transportation and safety experts and stakeholders.

"And due to the level of effort and collaboration between government agencies and advocacy groups, California’s updated SHSP promises to be even more robust."

Like its predecessor, the new transportation safety blueprint is largely data-driven.

Developed in 2005, the original SHSP led in 30.4% reduction of roadway fatalities in California from 2005 to 2012, and a 17.5% decline in severe injuries.

Image: The Baseline Road in California, US. Photo: courtesy of Americanist.