Connecticut Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) 2022-2026

A Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) is a statewide, data-driven, comprehensive, multi-disciplinary transportation safety plan integrating the 4Es of safety – education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency services. The goal of the plan is to reduce traffic accident fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, in keeping with Connecticut’s Vision Zero commitment. In coordination with federal, state, local, and private sector safety stakeholders, the SHSP establishes goals, objectives, and emphasis (or challenge) areas. Connecticut recently updated our plan and is currently in the Implementation Phase.

The current SHSP identifies three main Safety Emphasis Areas (EAs): Infrastructure, Behavior and Pedestrian, as well as Additional Safety Areas that encompass many other topics. Emphasis Area teams have been established and have begun meeting in order to identify implementation strategies. The CT T2 Center has representation on the SHSP Steering Committee and the Pedestrian, Infrastructure, and Additional Safety Areas EA teams.

Stakeholders representing Federal, State, and local agencies as well as consultants and advocacy groups are actively participating in identifying strategies to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes on our roadways. The Infrastructure EA is focusing on Roadway Departure crashes and Intersection crashes. Some of the strategies being discussed for reducing Roadway Departure fatal and serious injury crashes are improved signage and striping, speed management, clear zone improvements, and rumble strips. For the Intersection crashes, the EA team is exploring signal improvements, roundabouts, enhanced signage and pavement markings, and improved geometry. The Behavior EA is addressing several types of crashes – Impaired Driving, Aggressive Driver, Unrestrained Occupants, Motorcycle, and Distracted Driving. There are several strategies being evaluated with many involving improved public awareness and education along with enforcement, including automated enforcement. To reduce fatal and serious injury crashes in the Pedestrian EA, some strategies being evaluated are increased public awareness and education, improved infrastructure, Complete Streets improvements, and installation of Proven Safety Countermeasures. Within all of the Emphasis Areas, the teams are considering the Safe System Approach as they evaluate the strategies.

If you have not read through the current SHSP, the plan is hosted on the T2 Center’s website, here. Please take a few moments to review it and feel free to reach out with any questions you may have.

For more information and assistance with local road safety in your community, contact Melissa Evans, Safety Circuit Rider, at melissa.evans@uconn.edu or Jason Hughes, Safety Technical Associate, at jason.hughes@uconn.edu.