Comprehensive Safety Action Plans
Get Inspired by Real Action Plans
Introduction to Comprehensive Safety Action Plans
Leadership Commitment and Goal Setting
Planning Structure
Safety Analysis
Engagement and Collaboration
Policy and Process Change
Strategy and Project Selections
Progress and Transparency
Get Inspired by Real Action Plans
Dive into our collection of completed Action Plans from SS4A grant recipients across the country! Use this space to explore, get inspired, and see how other grant recipients are applying the Safe System Approach in their communities.
Comprehensive Safety Action Plans
What are Comprehensive Safety Action Plans?
In the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program, Comprehensive Safety Action Plans (referred to as “Action Plans”) are the basic building blocks to significantly improve roadway safety. It supports the implementation of projects and strategies that will help achieve local, data-driven transportation safety goals.
What is the goal of an Action Plan?
The goal of an Action Plan is to develop a holistic, well-defined strategy to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries in a locality, region, or on Tribal Lands.
What do Action Plans Include?
A successful Action Plan includes seven key components:
1
Leadership commitment and goal setting
2
Planning structure
3
Safety analysis
4
Engagement and collaboration
5
Policy and process changes
6
Strategy and project selections
7
Progress and transparency
To learn more about each component, check out the
U.S. Department of Transportation Comprehensive Safety Action Plan
webpage.
Action Plans 101
Use the lesson to learn the fundamentals. Then complete the activity to put your knowledge into practice and demonstrate your understanding.
1
Build your Action Plan with the Safe System Approach
Review the lesson and learn how Action Plans and the Safe System Approach work together to shape meaningful change for roadway safety.
After reviewing the lesson, you will be able to:
- Define the Safe System Approach, Action Plan, and guiding principles
- Explain how the Safe System Approach, Action Plan, and guiding principles work together
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Define Your Guiding Principles
Safe System Approach
The Safe System Approach has been embraced by the transportation community as an effective way to address and mitigate the risks inherent in our enormous and complex transportation system. It works by building and reinforcing multiple layers of protection to both prevent crashes from happening in the first place and minimize the harm caused to those involved when crashes do occur. It is a holistic and comprehensive approach that provides a guiding framework to make places safer for people.
This approach involves a paradigm shift to improve safety culture, increase collaboration across all safety stakeholders, and refocus transportation system design and operation on anticipating human mistakes and lessening impact forces to reduce crash severity and save lives.
The Safe System Approach and Action Plans work together to help communities move from vision to action when improving safety of all road users.
Here’s what you need to know to bring the Safe System approach to your community.
The Safe System Approach
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
- Safe People/Road Users
- Safe Roads
- Safe Vehicles
- Safe Speeds
- Post Crash Care
Safe System Approach in Action Plans
Additional Resources
Explore additional tools and insights to support your journey in developing an Action Plan.
Safe System Approach Video
Safe System Roadway Design Hierarchy
FHWA Safe System Approach Overview
Have a question about how you can apply the Safe System Approach to your Action Plan?
The SS4A Technical Assistance team can help! Transportation safety specialists are available to answer questions, share helpful resources, and recommend next steps to address grant recipient specific needs.
Request one-on-one coaching
with a transportation specialist to discuss your roadway safety challenges.
Email SS4A Inbox
with your questions
Leadership Commitment and Goal Setting
What is Leadership Commitment and Goal Setting?
Leadership commitment and goal setting is an official public commitment (e.g., resolution, memorandum, or other commitment) by a leader OR a local, regional, or metropolitan planning organization (MPO) policy board to an eventual goal of zero roadway fatalities and serious injuries.
The commitment must include a goal and timeline for eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries through one, or both, of the following:
- The target date for achieving zero roadway fatalities and serious injuries, or
- A percentage reduction of roadway fatalities and serious injuries by a specific date with an eventual goal of zero roadway fatalities and serious injuries.
What is the goal of Leadership Commitment and Goal Setting?
The goal of leadership commitment and goal setting is to secure visible, sustained support from community leadership and to set clear, measurable goals that drive the Action Plan forward. It signals that roadway safety is a top priority championed by leadership and is designed for long-term impact.
Leadership Commitment and Goal Setting 101
Use the lesson to learn the fundamentals. Then complete the activity to put your knowledge into practice and demonstrate your understanding.
1
Understanding Leadership Commitment and Goal Setting
Review the lesson and learn how to build trusted relationships with community leaders, secure their commitment, and set goals that carry momentum forward.
After reviewing the lesson, you'll be able to:
- Identify key leaders who can support your Action Plan
- Develop and present your “ask” to leadership
- Identify the types of documents or methods that can formalize leadership commitment
- Publicize and promote your leadership commitment
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Develop your SS4A Elevator Pitch
TAC Talk Episode 2: Leadership Commitment and Goal Setting
Guest expert Catherine Saine explores how leadership commitment fuels lasting change in roadway safety. From identifying stakeholders to formalizing commitments and sustaining momentum through leadership transitions, this conversation offers practical strategies for securing strong, visible support for Action Plans.
Noteworthy Practices from the Field
Gathered from completed SS4A Action Plans, these noteworthy practices helped grant recipients set goals and secure strong leadership commitments:
Engage Leadership Early and Often
Early and visible support from leadership, through announcements, public letters, or personal messages establish credibility, accountability, and long-term momentum.
Tailor Messages and Communication
Adapt communication styles and formats to suit different audiences help make roadway safety challenges resonate and persuasive.
Position Leadership as a Strategic Driver
Empower leaders to shape the plan, foster collaboration, and lead public messaging.
Establish Accountability and Celebrate Progress
Track milestones, share results, and publicly acknowledge achievements with leadership to reinforce commitment and build long-term buy in.
Codify Commitments Through Policy
Use local resolutions, ordinances, or similar mechanisms to formalize safety commitments.
Want to see examples of these strategies in action? Explore real-world examples in our Get Inspired by Real Action Plans tab.
Additional Resources
Explore additional tools and insights to support your journey in developing an Action Plan.
Peer Exchange: Your Comprehensive Safety Action Plan and Leadership Commitment
Have a question about how you can secure strong leadership commitment?
The SS4A Technical Assistance Team can help!
Whether you're stuck or just want to talk Action Plans, our team is ready to support you. You can:
Request one-on-one coaching
with a transportation expert to work through your Action Plan
Email SS4A Inbox
with your questions
Planning Structure
What is a Planning Structure?
A planning structure is a committee, task force, implementation group, or similar body responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and monitoring of an Action Plan.
What is the goal of a Planning Structure?
The goal of a planning structure is to establish a clear and coordinated framework that guides the development, implementation, and monitoring of safety strategies. This structure helps align actions with the community's safety vision while promoting efficiency, collaboration, and accountability.
Planning Structure 101
Use the lesson to learn the fundamentals. Then complete the activity to put your knowledge into practice and demonstrate your understanding.
1
Understanding Planning Structure
Review the lesson and learn how to assemble and activate a planning structure that keeps your Action Plan organized, collaborative, and moving forward.
After reviewing the lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify who should be part of your planning structure
- Empower your planning structure to drive progress
Browse the activity pages to the right, or download the PDF below.
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Building an Action Plan Task Force
Episode 3: Planning Structure
Guest expert Eric Tang breaks down how a strong Planning Structure serves as the backbone of every successful Action Plan. From bringing the right voices to the table to sustaining collaboration and accountability through implementation, this conversation offers practical guidance for building a team that drives lasting safety outcomes.
Noteworthy Practices from the Field
Gathered from completed SS4A Action Plans, these noteworthy practices helped grant recipients create and sustain an effective planning structure:
Engage a Wide Range of Stakeholders
Strengthen your team by including a wide range of voices such as transportation, emergency services, engineers, public health, Tribal communities, and community groups. A broad coalition brings trusted, valuable perspectives that represent the community's needs.
Use a Structured, Phased Planning Process
Organize planning into clear stages, such as setting goals, reviewing data, developing strategies, and prioritizing projects to keep your team aligned and intentional. Consider setting a "curriculum" to walk through each Action Plan component, using each phase to gather input and guide discussion.
Maintain Engagement by Setting an Intentional Cadence
Establish purposeful check-ins aligned with key milestones and your community's planning needs. Share updates regularly to sustain momentum and accountability.
Coordinate Across Jurisdictions for Unified Planning
Align city, county, and regional efforts to reduce duplication and ensure consistent goals and implementation strategies.
Identify Efforts Beyond the Action Plan
Look for tasks or initiatives outside SS4A planning that can amplify impact and build long-term trust with your community.
Want to see examples of these strategies in action? Explore real-world examples in our Get Inspired by Real Action Plans tab.
Additional Resources
Explore additional tools and insights to support your journey in developing an Action Plan.
Building Links to Improve Safety: How Safety and Transportation Planning Practitioners Work Together
Safety Planning Process Partners and Leaders
Improving Safety through Coordination
Have a question about how you can assemble your planning structure?
The SS4A Technical Assistance Team can help!
Whether you're stuck or just want to talk Action Plans, our team is ready to support you. You can:
Request one-on-one coaching
with a transportation expert to work through your Action Plan
Email SS4A Inbox
with your questions
Safety Analysis
What is Safety Analysis?
Safety analysis is the examination of existing conditions and historical trends to establish a baseline of crashes involving fatalities and serious injuries across a jurisdiction, locality, Tribe, or region. It includes an analysis of locations where there are crashes and the severity of the crashes, as well as contributing factors and crash types by relevant road users (e.g., motorists, pedestrians, transit users).
What is the goal of Safety Analysis?
The goal of safety analysis is to identify patterns and contributing factors behind roadway fatalities and injuries. These insights inform targeted safety strategies and guide investments aimed at reducing serious crashes.
Safety Analysis 101
Use the lesson to learn the fundamentals. Then complete the activity to put your knowledge into practice and demonstrate your understanding.
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Understanding Safety Analysis
Review the lesson and learn how to understand your community's characteristics, conditions, and safety landscape, so you can identify risks and turn insights into action.
After reviewing the lesson, you will be able to:
- Find data sources to identify trends and high-risk locations
- Use data to screen locations and prioritize needs
- Integrate actionable findings into your Action Plan
Browse the activity pages to the right, or download the PDF below.
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Safety Data Analysis and Prioritization
Episode 4: Safety Analysis
Guest expert Jeff Gooch unpacks how Safety Analysis transforms data into action, helping communities pinpoint risks and prioritize projects that save lives. From blending crash data with community insights to communicating findings in clear, visual ways, this conversation offers practical steps for turning information into impact.
Noteworthy Practices from the Field
Gathered from completed SS4A Action Plans, these noteworthy practices reveal what it takes to understand crash patterns, prioritize risks, and drive impactful, data-informed decisions that make roads safer for everyone:
Start with Local and Publicly Available Data
Begin your planning process by tapping into free and accessible data sources. These may include local crash reports, State DOT databases, and Emergency Services data. Using these resources first will help ground your recommendations in real-world conditions while avoiding high costs. As your analysis evolves, you can supplement with community feedback and/or paid datasets, if needed.
Adapt to Data Gaps with Custom Approaches
When data is limited or inconsistent, develop tailored methodologies, such as proxy indicators, observational studies, or stakeholder input, to work around limitations and still produce meaningful insights.
Focus Where It Counts
Let crash patterns and risk mapping lead the way. Prioritize high-impact areas and crash types to ensure your resources go where they'll have the greatest effect.
Validate Data with Ground-Level Knowledge
Incorporate lived experiences, local observations, and stakeholder feedback from the community to enrich data insights, ensuring the analysis reflects real-world conditions and community needs.
Apply the Systemic, Systematic, and/or site-specific Analysis Approach
Select one or more methods that best fit your jurisdiction's context and needs to guide effective safety analysis.
Consider Safety for All Road Users
Ensure your analysis accounts for both motorized and non-motorized users to reflect the full range of travel behaviors and roadway needs.
Want to see examples of these strategies in action? Explore real-world examples in our Get Inspired by Real Action Plans tab.
Additional Resources
Explore additional tools and insights to support your journey in developing an Action Plan.
Three Approaches to Address Severe Roadway Crashes
Systemic Safety User Guide
This guide offers a step-by-step framework for integrating systemic planning into safety management. It helps transportation practitioners identify crash and facility types, assess risk factors, select and implement countermeasures, and evaluate safety projects using real-world examples and case studies.
Data-Driven Safety Analysis (DDSA)
This webpage introduces Data-Driven Safety Analysis (DDSA) as a powerful planning tool that helps agencies forecast crash risk, identify high-risk locations, and prioritize safety investments using predictive and systemic methods. It provides an overview, information on benefits, and additional resources you can access to learn more.
Have a question about how you can conduct your safety analysis to better understand your community?
The SS4A Technical Assistance Team can help!
Whether you're stuck or just want to talk Action Plans, our team is ready to support you. You can:
Request one-on-one coaching
with a transportation expert to work through your Action Plan
Email SS4A Inbox
with your questions
Engagement and Collaboration
What is Engagement and Collaboration?
Engagement and collaboration involves robust engagement with relevant stakeholders, including the private sector and community groups, that allows for both community representation and feedback. Information received from engagement and collaboration is analyzed and incorporated into the Action Plan.
What is the goal of Engagement and Collaboration?
The goal of engagement and collaboration is to involve diverse stakeholders and the community in a meaningful way to gather input, build shared understanding, and create an Action Plan that reflects broad perspectives and needs.
Engagement and Collaboration 101
Use the lesson to learn the fundamentals. Then complete the activity to put your knowledge into practice and demonstrate your understanding.
1
Understanding Engagement and Collaboration
Review the lesson and learn how to identify stakeholders in your community that should be involved in the Action Plan process and how to collaborate with those stakeholders to gather meaningful insights.
After reviewing the lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify communities to engage with in the Action Plan development process
- Build long-term relationships with stakeholders
- Continue engaging community members throughout the Action Planning process
Browse the activity pages to the right, or download the PDF below.
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Noteworthy Practices from the Field
Gathered from completed SS4A Action Plans, these noteworthy practices helped grant recipients maintain strong engagement and collaboration with their community stakeholders:
Use Multi-Channel Outreach to Expand Reach
Use a variety of outreach methods, including a mix of digital, paper-based, and in-person methods to connect with residents across age groups, access levels, and comfort zones.
Meet People Where They Already Are
Hold conversations in familiar community spaces like senior centers, food pantries, and libraries or host pop-up events at well-attended local gatherings and events to increase accessibility and build trust.
Engage Community Groups to Expand Access
Partner with local organizations to reach populations often overlooked in planning and build credibility through trusted messengers.
Let Community Feedback Shape Final Priorities
Use public input to shift focus from initial assumptions to issues that matter most to residents, grounding final plan recommendations in both community concerns and lived user experience for stronger alignment with local needs.
Want to see examples of these strategies in action? Explore real-world examples in our Get Inspired by Real Action Plans tab.
Additional Resources
Explore additional tools and insights to support your journey in developing an Action Plan.
Safety Culture
Community of Practice (CoP) Peer Exchange: Comprehensive Safety Action Plans and Your Safety Story
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Traffic Safety Marketing
Community Connections Public Involvement Strategies
Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making
Have a question about how you can identify and involve your community's stakeholders?
The SS4A Technical Assistance Team can help!
Whether you're stuck or just want to talk Action Plans, our team is ready to support you. You can:
Request one-on-one coaching
with a transportation expert to work through your Action Plan
Email SS4A Inbox
with your questions
Policy and Process Change
What is Policy and Process Change?
Policy and process change involves reviewing existing policies, plans, guidelines, and standards to identify opportunities to better prioritize transportation safety.
What is the goal of Policy and Process Change?
The goal of policy and process change is to assess current policies and procedures and plan for updates that will help your community better prioritize transportation safety and align with long-term safety goals.
Policy and Process Change 101
Use the lesson to learn the fundamentals. Then complete the activity to put your knowledge into practice and demonstrate your understanding.
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Understanding Policy and Process Change
Review the lesson and learn how to analyze your community's current policies and identify opportunities for change.
After reviewing the lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify which types of policies or processes to review
- Find opportunities for policy or process updates
- Evaluate a policy or process for potential change
Browse the activity pages to the right, or download the PDF below.
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Noteworthy Practices from the Field
Gathered from completed SS4A Action Plans, these noteworthy practices helped grant recipients drive lasting policy and process change:
Align Safety Goals Across Plans and Departments
Coordinate local, regional, and departmental plans to embed safety priorities into broader transportation, land use, and infrastructure strategies.
Integrate Safety into Standards and Procedures
Update development codes, engineering standards, and zoning regulations to make safety a core part of project design and approval processes.
Conduct Policy Gap Analysis to Strengthen Safety Support
Compile and assess existing planning documents to identify where new or revised policies are needed to better advance safety goals.
Balance Immediate Action with Long-Term Change
Use an action-oriented timeline that balances short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to balance immediate progress while driving long-term improvements.
Ground your Policies and Processes in your Community's Guiding Principles
Align safety policies with your guiding principles to ensure consistent, goal-driven decisions across your Action Plan.
Educate Community Leaders on Safety
Use the planning and policy development process as an opportunity to inform and engage elected officials, department heads, and other community leaders about the importance of safety and to build support for long-term improvements.
Want to see examples of these strategies in action? Explore real-world examples in our Get Inspired by Real Action Plans tab.
Additional Resources
Explore additional tools and insights to support your journey in developing an Action Plan.
Safe System Policy-based Alignment Framework
Building Links to Improve Safety: How Safety and Transportation Planning Practitioners Work Together
Have a question about how you can analyze your community's current policies and identify opportunities for change?
The SS4A Technical Assistance Team can help!
Whether you're stuck or just want to talk Action Plans, our team is ready to support you. You can:
Request one-on-one coaching
with a transportation expert to work through your Action Plan
Email SS4A Inbox
with your questions
Strategy and Project Selections
What is Strategy and Project Selections?
Strategy and project selections is the identification of a comprehensive set of projects and strategies, shaped by data, the best available evidence, noteworthy practices, and stakeholder input that will address the safety problems described in the Action Plan. These strategies and countermeasures focus on a Safe System Approach and effective interventions and consider multidisciplinary activities.
What is the goal of Strategy and Project Selections?
The goal of strategy and project selection is to create a prioritized list of data-driven, evidence-based strategies and projects that address safety issues in the Action Plan and to provide clear time ranges for when the strategies and countermeasures are expected to be deployed.
Strategy and Project Selections 101
Use the lesson to learn the fundamentals. Then complete the activity to put your knowledge into practice and demonstrate your understanding.
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Understanding Strategy and Project Selections
Review the lesson and learn how to turn safety goals into concrete strategies and projects by connecting your Action Plan findings into real-world improvements.
After reviewing the lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify safety improvements you can make
- Select and prioritize projects that address your safety challenges
- Engage stakeholders throughout the strategy and project selection process
Browse the activity pages to the right, or download the PDF below.
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Noteworthy Practices from the Field
Gathered from completed SS4A Action Plans, these noteworthy practices helped grant recipients select meaningful strategies and projects to improve roadway safety:
Prioritize with Purpose
Use crash data, community input, and risk scoring to identify strategic focus areas, such as speeding, impaired driving, and high-risk intersections, where targeted actions can yield the greatest safety outcomes.
Blend Data with Public Insight
Combine quantitative crash trends with qualitative community feedback to validate priorities, build trust, and ensure selected strategies reflect both evidence and lived experience.
Design for Community and Efficiency
Choose projects that serve diverse road users and environments, while balancing cost-effective solutions with larger, high-impact investments to maximize safe outcomes and resource use.
Build Transparency into the Process
Use clear scoring methods, interactive tools, and collaborative planning to help residents and stakeholders understand decision-making and stay engaged throughout implementation.
Treat Your Strategy as Evolving
Continuously refine your approach based on emerging data and trends to ensure your safety strategy remains responsive and effective.
Want to see examples of these strategies in action? Explore real-world examples in our Get Inspired by Real Action Plans tab.
Additional Resources
Explore additional tools and insights to support your journey in developing an Action Plan.
Proven Safety Countermeasures
Countermeasures That Work
Have a question about how you can turn your community's safety goals into concrete strategies and projects?
The SS4A Technical Assistance Team can help!
Whether you're stuck or just want to talk Action Plans, our team is ready to support you. You can:
Request one-on-one coaching
with a transportation expert to work through your Action Plan
Email SS4A Inbox
with your questions
Progress and Transparency
What is Progress and Transparency?
Progress and transparency is a method to measure progress over time after an Action Plan is developed or updated, including outcome data. It's a means to ensure ongoing transparency is established with residents and other relevant stakeholders.
The approach must include, at a minimum, annual public and accessible reporting on progress toward reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries and public posting of the Action Plan online.
What is the goal of Progress and Transparency?
The goal is to regularly measure, report, and publicly share results so stakeholders can understand the impact of implemented strategies and hold the Action Plan accountable for advancing roadway safety outcomes.
Progress and Transparency 101
Use the lesson to learn the fundamentals. Then complete the activity to put your knowledge into practice and demonstrate your understanding.
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Understanding Progress and Transparency
Review the lesson and learn how to track progress on your Action Plan and communicate results clearly to your community.
After reviewing these slides, you will be able to:
- Identify methods for publishing progress updates
- Determine metrics to track progress
Browse the activity pages to the right, or download the PDF below.
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Noteworthy Practices from the Field
Gathered from completed SS4A Action Plans, these noteworthy practices helped grant recipients track and share progress with their community:
Embed Performance Metrics to Monitor and Communicate Progress
Incorporate performance measures, metrics, and accomplishments to track progress, evaluate success, and share results with the community to reinforce transparency, build trust, and sustain engagement as the Action Plan is implemented.
Communicate Updates Transparently and Consistently
Tailor Action Plan updates to local contexts and use multiple formats (e.g. digital, print, and in-person) to reach diverse audiences and build public trust.
Use Public Dashboards and Reports to Share Progress
Share crash data, project updates, and performance metrics through accessible formats like dashboards, report cards, and story maps to keep the community informed and engaged.
Make Data Understandable and Actionable
Visualize trends, highlight high-risk areas, and link data to specific strategies so residents can see how safety efforts are making a difference.
Want to see examples of these strategies in action? Explore real-world examples in our Get Inspired by Real Action Plans tab.
Additional Resources
Explore additional tools and insights to support your journey in developing an Action Plan.
Safety Performance Management Target Setting Communication Plan and Toolkit
Have a question about how you can track and communicate progress to your community?
The SS4A Technical Assistance Team can help!
Whether you're stuck or just want to talk Action Plans, our team is ready to support you. You can:
Request one-on-one coaching
with a transportation expert to work through your Action Plan
Email SS4A Inbox
with your questions
