FHWA and Roadway Safety Foundation Honor Innovative Highway Safety Projects

Ten innovative highway safety projects were recently honored with National Roadway Safety Awards by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Roadway Safety Foundation.

Begun in 1999, the biennial National Roadway Safety Awards honor initiatives that improve roadway safety at the state and local level.

“The problem-solving creativity and dedication shown by every one of the award winners and honorees will save countless lives – using a data driven approach and practices that are proven to reduce crashes,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt in a statement. “The 2023 award winners demonstrate a strong commitment to moving the United States toward zero deaths and serious injuries on our nation’s roadways, and we are proud to applaud their efforts.”

Much of the honorees’ work began amid a nationwide spike in vehicular crashes during the pandemic, when U.S. roadway fatalities rose 7.3% in 2020 and a further 10.1% in 2021 before holding steady at a high level in 2022 (-0.3%).

Early estimates for the first half of 2023 show crash fatalities declined slightly but remain at levels not seen since the mid-2000s. Between January and June, fatalities nationwide declined by an estimated 3.3%, compared with the first six months of 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“The stubbornly elevated fatality numbers underscore the urgent need for innovations like the National Roadway Safety Award honorees’ projects,” said Roadway Safety Foundation Executive Director Bruce Hamilton in a statement. “With several initiatives already showing major reductions in fatalities, injuries and crashes, today’s honorees are shining a bright light on the path to safer travel.”

Applicants for the National Roadway Safety Awards were encouraged to nominate projects and programs that are innovative, effective and cost efficient. The awards covered two categories: