Traffic Safety Performance Measures
GHSA has worked with NHTSA to identify a minimum set of 14 performance measures that states will use to develop and implement behavioral highway safety plans and programs, beginning with their FY 2010 Highway Safety Performance Plans and Annual Reports. An expert panel from NHTSA, State Highway Safety Offices, academic and research organizations, and other key groups assisted in developing the measures.
Initial Report: The initial set contains 14 measures: 10 core outcome measures, one core behavior measure, and three activity measures. The measures are explained in detail in the full report: Traffic Safety Performance Measures for States and Federal Agencies. Download the complete report. 
Attitude and Awareness Survey: GHSA and NHTSA have also completed work on one additional measure: changes in attitudes. All states will conduct an annual attitude survey beginning in FY 2010. The survey contains nine questions on occupant protection, impaired driving and speeding that all states should use. For a more detailed explanation of the measures, download the summary and full report .
GHSA and NHTSA are working on developing performance measures in three additional areas: injury measures, statewide citation data, and speeding-related measures.
More Information
- Performance Measures Frequently Asked Questions
Presented by Marlene Markison, NHTSA, at GHSA's March 2009 Board Meeting
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is no accident—nor is it a victimless crime. Last year alone, 15,121 were killed in alcohol-related crashes where the highest blood alcohol concentration was over the legal limit of .08. GHSA is committed to combating this crisis. Below are anti-drunk driving initiatives in which GHSA is involved:
Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.
Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest is a national crackdown event that combines stepped up law enforcement, media campaigns and public awareness to keep drunk drivers off the roads. GHSA Members are teaming up with NHTSA, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) to step up drunk driving education and enforcement efforts around the holidays.
Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving
GHSA has joined MADD and other highway safety groups to support its national Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. The Campaign has four key components: technology, tougher enforcement, stronger laws, and grassroots mobilization. The Campaign's goal is to "completely eliminate drunk driving...making it the public health equivalent of polio."
Learn More >>
Support 21 Coalition
In response to the ongoing debate about the 21 National Minimum Drinking Age, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has formed a Support 21 Coalition to educate the public about the scientific research behind the underage drinking law and how it saves lives. GHSA strongly supports the 21 Minimum Drinking Age Law. Both research and the hands-on experience of state highway safety agencies indicate that this law has saved countless lives. Visit GHSA's 21 Minimum Drinking Age issue page for more information.
Occupant Protection
Click It or Ticket
Click It or Ticket is a national campaign to boost seat belt use and reduce highway fatalities.
The 2008 Click It or Ticket mobilization took place May 19 - June 1. State and local law enforcement agencies were out in force to make sure citizens are buckling up. The mobilization was augmented by national and state media campaigns and public outreach.
CPS Law Enforcement Materials
To help police officers provide parents with the most up-to-date child passenger safety information for their state, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is partnering with GHSA to provide some great new resources for State Highway Safety Offices and their law enforcement grantees.
Teen Driver Safety
Driving Skills for Life
Driving Skills for Life is a campaign
working to build strong national recognition and interest in the growing problem
of teen drivers. With multi-year funding from Ford Motor Company Fund, Driving
Skills for Life is an innovative skills development program for new teen drivers
that addresses the factors most involved in teen crashes. Learn More >>
National Teen Driver Safety Week
October 19-25, 2008
For free campaign resources from CHOP for 2008, visit www.ntdsw2008.org.
Last year, Congress passed a joint resolution making the third week in October National Teen Driver Safety Week. Its mission is to bring teens, community leaders, educators, and parents together to take action and increase awareness to help prevent teen crashes, the leading cause of death for American teens.
State Highway Safety Offices are very involved in teen driver safety, and many plan activities specific to NTDSW. Others have year-long programs focusing on teen belt use, graduated licensing and underage drinking. GHSA, primarily through its joint effort with Ford's Driving Skills for Life program, is using the week as a vehicle for promoting safe teen driving. Read about 2008 state activities.
State Highway Safety Showcase
A rotating series of State Highway Safety program successes and best practices.
RIDOT Launches Four Social Media Sites
Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT)
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has established a presence on four popular web-based social networking sites: Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Blogger. These sites will allow for wider dissemination of news releases, traffic alerts and other important messages to motorists. Learn More >>
To submit your state's program or best practice, download the submission form 
, complete and e-mail it to Kara Macek at kmacek@ghsa.org. Contact Kara with questions.
Past Showcases >>
Resources for States
GHSA is pleased to provide the following resources for State Highway Safety Offices (SHSO):
Management Review (MR) and Deadline Reminder Table
This table is intended to assist states in: tracking key MR Elements; identifying important deadlines; and identifying best practices related to the Highway Safety Performance Plan, monitoring and grant management. The table is a Word document and can be downloaded and easily modified. Download Reminder Table >>
GHSA Policies and Procedures Manual (PPM)
This Manual is a guide to assist staff in administering the NHTSA traffic safety grant program in compliance with applicable State and Federal laws and regulations. It is intended for use by SHSO personnel, Department of Transportation employees, state and local government officials, and anyone interested in the procedures which are followed by the State Highway Safety Offices. Download Policy Manual >>
GHSA Monitoring Advisory
SHSOs often allocate federal funding to other state agencies, local agencies (including law enforcement) and nonprofits. SHSOs must monitor these grants to ensure that sub-grantees are spending their funds in the manner intended. To enhance the state monitoring processes, GHSA examined state monitoring efforts, identified best practices and published the Monitoring Advisory, which was reviewed by the Executive Board and the NHTSA and adopted by GHSA's membership in September 2006. Download Monitoring Advisory >>
Highway Safety Performance Plan and Annual Report Tools
SHSOs must submit annual Highway Safety Performance Plans (HSPP) to NHTSA. States also must submit Annual Reports (AR) indicating how the state spent its federal grant funds the previous year. The most recent HSPPs and ARs are available on NHTSA's website: www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/whatsup/SAFETEAweb/index.htm. To encourage greater uniformity, GHSA has developed guides and templates for these documents.
Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria
Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (MMUCC) are voluntary guidelines originally developed in response to requests by states interested in improving and standardizing their state crash data. By providing states with a "minimum" set of data elements, MMUCC helps them collect reliable crash data, effectively guide enforcement planning, and shape sound traffic safety policy. The 3rd Edition was released in July 2008.
The National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running
The National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running is dedicated to reducing the
incidence of red light running in the United States and the fatalities and injuries
it causes. The Campaign has assembled a team of leaders from the fields of law
enforcement, transportation engineering, healthcare and emergency medicine,
and traffic safety, to tackle this crucial safety issue. Barbara Harsha, GHSA
executive director, serves on the Campaign's Advisory Board. For more information, check out www.stopredlightrunning.com.
Safe Routes to School
The Safe Routes to School helps communities enable and encourage children to walk and bike to school safely. The National Center for Safe Routes to School offers a centralized clearninghouse of information on how to start and sustain a Safe Routes to School program, case studies of successful programs and other training and technical assistance resources. The Center is maintained by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. GHSA is a cosponsor of the Safe Routes to School clearinghouse. Go to www.saferoutesinfo.org to learn more.
