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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
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    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <item>
      <title>Applying a Safe System Framework to Rail-Related Trespassing Deaths and Injuries in North Carolina</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2604727</link>
      <description><![CDATA[According to the Federal Railroad Administration, in 2023, there were 27 trespassing deaths and injuries on rail corridors in North Carolina, a 23% increase from the number of casualties in 2022. Although various research studies, both outside and within North Carolina, have examined the causes of rail trespassing casualties, preventing these deaths and injuries remains challenging due to the complexities of human behavior and the social and environmental conditions that bring pedestrians into contact with rail lines. Therefore, this research project proposes a new, Safe System-based approach to analyzing and addressing pedestrian rail trespassing incidents. 


The Safe System Approach is a public health paradigm of transportation safety management that holds human vulnerability and human fallibility as critical considerations for how to proactively prevent transportation deaths and injuries. The Safe System Approach has been formally adopted by the United States Department of Transportation and is central to the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT's) Strategic Highway Safety Plan. Applications of the Safe System Approach often entail an assessment of three parameters: road users’ exposure to conflicts, the likelihood for those conflicts to become crashes, and the severity of crashes when they occur. In the context of rail trespassing incidents, implementing the Safe System Approach involves understanding pedestrian exposure to rail crossings and the likelihood of trespassing because rail strikes tend to be severe. If the mechanisms behind exposure and likelihood can  be better understood, then countermeasures can be applied.

To accomplish this Safe System assessment, the research team proposes combining multiple data streams to build a  knowledge base of a model rail trespassing incident so that a systems science-based evaluation method, the AcciMap, can be applied to identify the critical risks that lead to fatal and severe trespassing incidents. The team proposes supplementing data collected for previous NCDOT projects with survey data, literature-derived risk factors, desk reviews, and field visits to establish a foundation upon which the team can apply the AcciMap method. Using the causal links identified through AcciMapping, the team can then identify countermeasures to the risks. The team will translate these methods into reproducible, locally relevant guidance for transportation agencies and local governments. 

The team of researchers from the UNC Highway Safety Research Center and North Carolina A&T University are uniquely poised to conduct this research project. They are national leaders in Safe System research and have completed rail safety research upon which this project will build. The team understands the need for novel thinking to address safety risks while also recognizing the hyper-local focus this analysis requires. They are well-equipped to produce useful resources for practitioners, such as a Safe System-based rail safety checklist and guidance for risk identification and countermeasure selection. A final report documenting the project’s findings will be accompanied by presentation materials for sharing results and a more detailed implementation plan to facilitate uptake by State and local transportation agencies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2025 15:38:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2604727</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Speed Modification Factors within the Safe System Approach


</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558365</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Safe System Approach (SSA) is a comprehensive strategy to prevent fatal and serious-injury crashes that works by building and reinforcing multiple layers of protection. Success in implementing the SSA requires an understanding of safe system speed applications in planning, design, and operational contexts. However, there is limited understanding of how speed management countermeasures influence operating speeds and resulting injury severity. Furthermore, there is limited research on speed changes related to the evolving concept of achieving injury-minimization target speeds for various roadway types and land use contexts. Research is needed to fill these knowledge gaps.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a guide that provides: An injury-minimization speed management approach for achieving safe system speeds by applying speed modification factors (SMFs); A framework for developing and applying SMFs, including a pilot series of SMFs; Strategies for communicating speed management changes to the public and to public officials
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2025 13:17:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558365</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Tort Liability and Shifting Legal Responsibility in the Safe System Approach</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558416</link>
      <description><![CDATA[One of the most significant federal policy frameworks addressing fatal and serious injury crashes in the United States is the Safe System Approach (SSA). The SSA recognizes that safety is a shared responsibility among all stakeholders, including road users, vehicle manufacturers, roadway designers and operators, law enforcement agencies, and post-crash care providers. Its main principle is that human errors are inevitable, and the transportation system should be designed and managed so those errors do not result in fatal or serious injuries.

However, the principle of shared responsibility and the proactive measures encouraged by the SSA have raised concerns about tort liability and the legal responsibilities of roadway designers and operators. These concerns are sometimes cited as reasons to avoid implementing roadway design changes or operational strategies that could modify driving behavior—even when such changes could substantially improve safety for all users. Research is needed to understand how tort liability laws affect the adoption of proactive roadway safety practices to help transportation professionals apply the SSA without being hindered by concerns about increased legal liability.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a compendium that documents (1) how tort liability laws influence the adoption of proactive roadway safety practices and (2) noteworthy practices for implementing the SSA without being constrained by concerns over increased legal responsibilities.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 May 2025 20:28:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558416</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Toolkit to Support Implementation of the Safe System Approach



</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2381756</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Safe System Approach (SSA) is a comprehensive approach to road safety that works by building and reinforcing multiple layers of protection to prevent crashes and minimize harm when crashes occur. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), and others are working to increase awareness and adoption of SSA. The U.S. DOT has developed numerous resources to support state implementation of SSA. State DOTs and AASHTO are working to complement those efforts. Guides and other resources under development will address some needs but not all of them. 

Research is needed to develop tools to support state DOTs and other transportation agencies in adopting SSA, recognizing that deployment often occurs through changes in individual principles or activities. Tools to support implementation will allow state DOTs and other transportation agencies to begin incorporating SSA concepts to facilitate the elimination of traffic deaths and serious injuries. International experience shows SSA will be applied somewhat differently based on the culture, context, and needs of individual agencies and communities. 

The objective of this project is to develop a toolkit with tools, methods, and process models to support decision-making in implementing SSA throughout the transportation project life cycle and across project types and functional disciplines (e.g., designers, planners, maintenance, and operations staff) as a complement to higher-level guidance and practices. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 May 2024 09:57:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2381756</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Safe System Approach for Including Trees in Urban and Suburban Roadway Contexts



</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2381741</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Roadside design guidance typically instructs agencies to limit fixed objects, including trees, along roadways to provide a safer recovery area for errant vehicles. On urban streets, trees are amenities that benefit pedestrians, bicyclists, residents, and others by providing shade, potential traffic calming and speed reductions, and aesthetic appeal.  However, trees are fixed objects that can cause serious injury or fatality if struck by an errant vehicle.

NCHRP Project 17-82, “Proposed Guidance for Fixed Objects in the Roadside Design Guide” explored crash prediction methods and developed design guidelines regarding trees and utility poles in rural non-freeway settings. On roadways with posted speed limits of 30 mph and less, trees are generally accepted as part of the roadside environment. At posted speed limits of 55 mph and greater, facilities for non-motorized users are less likely to be present and vehicular collisions with trees have the potential to result in serious injuries or fatalities. However, research is needed for urban and suburban roadways, particularly in posted speed limit settings between 35 and 50 mph. On these roadways, vehicle collisions with trees are a significant safety concern; however, maximizing properly and responsibly designed tree placements in the roadside environment can benefit public health and community livability.

Research is needed to help state departments of transportation (DOTs) and other transportation agencies advance the knowledge on the safety effects of trees and support guidelines to inform tree planning and landscaping policies, procedures, and practices that support the needs of all roadway users.

The objective of this research is to develop a practitioner’s guide for evaluating the safety effects of trees on urban and suburban roadways with a focus on posted speed limits of 35 to 50 mph.

The practitioner’s guide will include a framework for the placement, maintenance, removal, and replanting of trees and complementary features in roadway environments. This research will consider the needs of all users of the transportation system and support implementation of the Safe System approach.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2024 11:59:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2381741</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Pedestrian Exposure for Crash Prediction</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2259669</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This follow-on builds upon the framework established in a previous task order. Using data from Seattle/King County, Washington, the team developed and tested models of pedestrian exposure. The next step is to explore crash likelihood. At the intersection level, the relationship between pedestrian exposure measures (variables) and crash likelihood will be investigated. Analytical models will be developed that predict likelihood of pedestrian-vehicle crashes given pedestrian exposure measures. In addition, a sample of intersections will be used to examine associations between equity related factors (e.g., median household income, presence of sidewalks) and
crashes. This knowledge will help in future efforts in the development of tailored safety programs that encourage a Safe System approach wherein traffic safety professionals and other stakeholders can work together to implement multi-component countermeasure solutions to protect all road users.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 02 Oct 2023 07:47:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2259669</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Implementing Safe Systems Approach in Project Development</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2244512</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In 2021, traffic collisions resulted in 806 fatalities and over 30,000 injuries in Kentucky. The Cabinet administers safety initiatives through its Office of Highway Safety, the Highway Safety Improvement Program, and efforts focused on work zone safety (e.g., participating in and publicizing National Work Zone Awareness Week). Although project purpose and need statements often mention safety, a safe systems approach would offer additional opportunities to focus on safety during project development as it offers a comprehensive set of principles and objectives to underwrite system design and operations. Integrating this approach into project development can help Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) meet safe systems objectives and improve public safety.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Sep 2023 08:49:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2244512</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Reduce Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2186024</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Towards Zero Deaths (TZD), Vision Zero (VZ), and Road to Zero (RTZ) are national strategies on transportation safety with a vision of a transportation system free of fatalities, changing the safety culture to the point where even one traffic related death is unacceptable.  Another initiative recently adopted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is the Safe System approach to transportation safety.  Like TZD, VZ and RTZ, the Safe System approach aims to eliminate fatal and serious injuries for all road users.  It does so through a holistic view of the road system that anticipates human mistakes and keeps impact energy on the human body at tolerable levels. To accomplish this goal, every user of the transportation system and traffic safety decision maker must change the way they think about traffic safety. For South Dakota (SD) to implement a zero-fatality initiative, it needs an implementation plan that defines the roles and responsibilities of multiple state and local government agencies.  These agencies include the Office of the Governor, Dept. of Transportation, Dept. of Public Safety, Dept. of Health, Dept. of Education, Unified Judicial System, Local Transportation Assistance Program, SD Police Chiefs’ Association, SD Sheriffs’ Association, SD Association of County Highway Superintendents, and Tribal Partners. The proposed research project will use resources available to coordinate with these agencies in developing a zero-fatality initiative implementation plan specific to South Dakota.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 May 2023 14:13:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2186024</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Applying the Safe System Approach to Transportation Planning, Design, and Operations in the United States



</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1842750</link>
      <description><![CDATA[NCHRP Research Report 1135 presents a guide for applying the Safe System Approach among state departments of transportation (DOTs) and other transportation agencies. Based on extensive stakeholder outreach including practitioner focus groups, the guide covers six domains of practice in transportation safety, which users can draw from based on their organizational interests, competencies, and safety-oriented goals. The guide should be of particular use to state DOTs and any other transportation agency seeking to provide resources for transportation planners, designers, and operations managers to implement Safe System principles and make the systems under their jurisdictions safer. 

The Safe System Approach is a holistic approach that provides a framework for making the national transportation system safer. A Safe System is based on building and reinforcing multiple layers of protection to prevent crashes from happening and minimize the harm caused when crashes occur. This approach differs from conventional safety approaches, since it focuses on human vulnerability and designs a system with many redundancies to protect all transportation users. Despite increased interest in Safe System, few guidelines exist for transportation planners, designers, and operations managers for implementing a Safe System. For Safe System to be fully implemented, it must address not only infrastructure design but also vehicle design, policies and law, recognition of share safety responsibility, road user behavior, and public culture, all of which will require some degree of change. Research was needed to begin providing resources for transportation planners, designers, and operations managers to consult during safety problem identification, project development, and countermeasure selection. 

Under NCHRP Project 17-101, “Applying the Safe System Approach to Transportation Planning, Design, and Operations in the United States,” the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill was asked to develop materials that would enable a range of professionals and organizations to adopt and implement the Safe System Approach in their work. Using extensive outreach to a variety of safety stakeholders, the research team identified strategies, practices, and policies for implementing the Safe System Approach in the United States then modularized them using six domains of practice integral to implementation.  The resultant guide provides safety teams with the foregoing resources and a Safe System Strategy Implementation Self-Assessment designed to offer insight into teams’ progress in implementing Safe System-aligned strategies across domains of practice. 

In addition to NCHRP Research Report 1135, the following deliverables can be found on the National Academies Press website (nap.nationalacademies.org) by searching for NCHRP Research Report 1135. (1) A Conduct of research report summarizing the entire effort, available as NCHRP Web-Only Document 413, Project Summary Report: Applying the Safe System Approach to Transportation Planning, Design, and Operations in the United States. (2) A plan that identifies mechanisms and channels for communicating and implementing this research. (3) A PowerPoint presentation introducing NCHRP Research Report 1135.

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Mar 2021 10:40:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1842750</guid>
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