About Systemic Safety
For many Indiana communities, severe crashes are spread over hundreds of miles of rural roadway. Many severe crashes seem to occur "randomly"; a severe crash may occur at an isolated location one year and another may never occur there again. While the exact location of these crashes may be random, the type of roadway where they occur is not random. For instance, we know that head-on crashes are more likely on roadways which are narrow and do not have a marked centerline.
Systemic Safety is a method that is used to address these crashes based on the "risk" of their occurrence by selecting locations for treatment based on roadway characteristics with or without a relevant crash history at any one location. Systemic safety does not replace hot-spot safety improvement projects such as intersection improvements, but should be used as a complementary technique to improve safety.
Communities may select countermeasures from the following list and apply them to relevant locations within their jurisdiction based on either a history of crashes or on evidence that routes with similar characteristics have been found to have a higher instance of severe crashes of a specific type which would be addressed by the chosen countermeasure.
To Apply:
To apply for HSIP funding for systemic safety, see our Notice of Funding Availability Page HERE. The applicant will be required to fill out a one page form INDOT SYSTEMIC SAFETY ELIGIBILITY FORM (For applications on or after May 1st 2024) to show that the work they are planning fits within one of the eligible systemic safety work types.
Systemic safety projects are often low-cost and low-impact and can sometimes be delivered faster than spot improvement projects. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to LPAQuestions@indot.in.gov to determine if there is funding availability in a year sooner than 6 years out (the current call-year).
- Rural Stop Controlled Intersections
- (Popular!) Improve visibility of unsignalized rural intersections by installing upgraded/new warning devices and markings
- Narrowing lanes approaching rural intersections using pavement markings and/or rumple strips. (For intersections without left turn lanes)
- Install vehicle activated advanced warning devices including Stop Ahead and/or LED Stop Signs or Conflict Warning Systems at rural, two-way stop unsignalized intersections.
- Urban and Suburban Safety
- Install raised medians for access management control on roadway segments and/or at intersections.
- Construct right sizing (road diet) projects at locations that can be accomplished through the use of signs and pavement markings (Not Applicable to pavement reconstruction or geometric modifications).
- Reconfiguration of roadway space to narrow lanes using pavement markings.
- Installation of speed feedback signs at speed transition zones or school zones.
- Installation of curb bump outs (curb extensions) at intersections.
- (New!) Installation of other traffic calming elements to reduce vehicle speeds in built up urban areas where pedestrians are present such as; lateral shifts, chicanes, realigned intersections, chockers, median islands, on-street parking or other treatments.
- Pedestrians
- (Popular!) Install new pedestrian crosswalk warning signs, flashing beacons or special pavement markings.
- Install or upgrade pedestrian curb ramps and median refuge areas in areas of high conflict between pedestrians and vehicular traffic.
- Install pedestrian push button/activated Countdown And Audible (APS) Pedestrian signal heads and controllers at traffic signals.
- (New!) Installation of raised crosswalks and/or speed humps/bumps/tables for speed control in low-speed urban areas
- Rural Segments
- Improve the visibility of curves by upgrading or adding curve warning signs and markings.
- (Popular!) Install new centerline and/or edge line pavement markings on unmarked roadways.
- Add centerline and/or edge line rumble stripes (pavement markings over the rumble) or edgeline rumble strips to rural roads.
- Add FHWA recommended High Friction Surface Treatments (HFST) to curves, ramps, or selected intersection approaches.
- Upgrade guardrail end treatments to meet current standards.
- Install guardrails or median barriers at locations where none existed previously.
- Install median cable barrier systems on divided roads with grass medians.
- Remove or shield permanent roadside safety obstructions.
- (New!) Install RPMs on rural high-speed roadways.
- Traffic Signals
- Make changes to yellow interval traffic signal timing or signal interconnect to improve safety.
- Upgrade traffic signals to a minimum of one signal head per travel lane and install black backing plates with reflective borders on all traffic signal heads.
- Install UPS battery backup (emergency power) systems at traffic signal locations for continuous use during power outages.
- Install railroad pre-emption systems at signalized intersections that are within the influence area of crossing railroad trains.
- Install emergency vehicle pre-emption systems at traffic signal locations to reduce response times and increase safety as the emergency vehicles pass through intersections.
- (New!) Remove unwarranted signals and replace them with 4-way stop controlled intersection. (Engineering study required.
- Other
- Improve visibility of intersections or pedestrian crossings by providing overhead lighting.
- Improve left turn sight distance at intersections with uncontrolled or permissive left turns by installing slotted left turn lanes or positive offset left turn lanes.
- Install or upgrade passive or new active warning devices and pavement markings at railroad crossings.
- (Popular!) Conduct inventory of traffic signs and/or upgrade warning and regulatory signs to meet MUTCD retro reflectivity requirements.
- (New!) Complete a local road safety plan for the relevant jurisdiction.
(Updated May 1st 2024)
For more information on each of these work types see our systemic safety brochure: (DOCUMENT NOT COMPLETE, COMING SOON)
For more information on systemic safety, click here.