Countermeasures That Work: A Highway Safety Countermeasure Guide For State Highway Safety Offices, Sixth Edition, 2011

NHTSA · 2011 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

**Countermeasures That Work: A Highway Safety Countermeasure Guide For State Highway Safety Offices, Sixth Edition, 2011** addresses the need for a science-based reference tool to assist State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) in selecting effective traffic safety interventions. Published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and prepared by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, the guide aims to help states identify problem areas through data analysis and implement countermeasures that have demonstrated effectiveness or show promise. The document focuses exclusively on behavioral strategies, excluding vehicle- or roadway-based solutions, and is designed to support traditional highway safety grant programs. The methodology involves a comprehensive review of published research and evaluation studies through May 31, 2010, supplemented by data from NHTSA’s *Traffic Safety Facts 2009*. The guide is organized into nine chapters covering major highway safety problem areas: alcohol-impaired and drugged driving, seat belt use and child restraints, aggressive driving and speeding, distracted and drowsy driving, motorcycle safety, young drivers, older drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. For each specific countermeasure, the authors summarize its use, effectiveness, costs, and implementation time. Effectiveness ratings are based primarily on demonstrated reductions in crashes, injuries, or fatalities, derived from high-quality evaluations. The guide also incorporates findings from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) and Cochrane Reviews where applicable, providing references to key studies and research summaries to allow users to verify evidence. Key findings highlight the prevalence and impact of various safety issues. In 2009, 10,839 fatalities involved alcohol-impaired drivers, representing nearly one-third of total motor vehicle deaths. While alcohol-impaired driving fatalities declined steadily from 1982 to the mid-1990s due to legislation and enforcement, they plateaued between 1992 and 2006. The guide identifies specific effective countermeasures, such as administrative license revocation, sobriety checkpoints, and graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems, which have significantly reduced crash risks for young drivers. Regarding drugged driving, roadside surveys indicate that 11.3% of nighttime drivers tested positive for illegal drugs, with marijuana being the most common. However, the guide notes that research on drugged driving is limited and that positive drug tests do not necessarily indicate impairment. The text emphasizes that countermeasure effectiveness varies by implementation quality, with high-quality execution yielding maximum benefits. The significance of this guide lies in its role as a practical, evidence-based resource for policymakers and safety professionals. By synthesizing complex research into accessible summaries, it enables SHSOs to prioritize interventions that offer the greatest reduction in crashes and fatalities. The guide underscores that behavioral countermeasures must be implemented vigorously, publicized extensively, and funded satisfactorily to be effective. It also highlights gaps in current research, particularly regarding drugged driving and certain behavioral areas, encouraging states to evaluate innovative programs and contribute to the collective knowledge pool. Ultimately, the document serves as a critical tool for optimizing state highway safety programs through data-driven decision-making.

Key finding

The guide provides a structured evaluation of behavioral countermeasures, categorizing them by effectiveness, use, cost, and implementation time to assist State Highway Safety Offices in selecting evidence-based strategies.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Topics

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• driver education effectiveness
• regulatory evaluation
• dui enforcement
• seat belt use
• public messaging
• automated enforcement cameras

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation, policy recommendations
• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence