Safe System ApproachHistorically, crashes have been viewed as the result of an error on the part of the individual roadway user—a law or rule was broken, a wrong decision made. The Safe System Approach, which was born from international Vision Zero efforts, acknowledges that humans make mistakes and, importantly, are vulnerable to the forces that occur during a crash. By focusing on eliminating fatal and serious injuries the Safe System Approach inherently places a priority on pedestrians and bicyclists, who are at a higher risk of fatal or serious injury than a person driving or traveling in a motor vehicle.
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PrinciplesDeath and Serious Injuries are Unacceptable
A Safe System Approach prioritizes the elimination of crashes that result in death and serious injuries. Humans Make Mistakes People will inevitably make mistakes and decisions that can lead or contribute to crashes, but transportation systems can be designed and operated to accommodate to human mistakes, and avoid death and serious injuries when a crash occurs. Humans Are Vulnerable Human bodies have physical limits for tolerating crash forces before death or serious injury occurs; therefore, it is critical to design and operate a transportation system that is human-centric and accommodates physical human vulnerabilities. Responsibility is Shared All stakeholders—including government at all levels, industry, non-profit/advocacy, researchers, and the general public—are vital to preventing fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways. Safety is Proactive Proactive tools including data and design should be used to identify and address safety issues in the transportation system, rather than waiting for crashes to occur and reacting afterwards. Redundancy is Crucial Reducing risks requires that the transportation system is layered and strengthened, so that if one part fails, the other parts still protect people. |
ObjectivesSafer Roads
Design roadway environments to mitigate human mistakes and account for injury tolerances, to encourage safer behaviors, and to facilitate safe travel by the most vulnerable users. Safer Speeds Promote safer speeds in all roadway environments through a combination of thoughtful, equitable, context-appropriate roadway design, appropriate speed-limit setting, targeted education, outreach campaigns, and enforcement. Safer People Encourage safe, responsible driving and behavior by people who use our roads and create conditions that prioritize their ability to reach their destination unharmed. Safer Vehicles Expand the availability of vehicle systems and features that help to prevent crashes and minimize the impact of crashes on both occupants and non-occupants. Post-Crash Care Enhance the survivability of crashes through expedient access to emergency medical care, while creating a safe working environment for vital first responders and preventing secondary crashes through robust traffic incident management practices. |
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SPC Regional Safety Action PlanThe SPC updated its Regional Transportation Safety Action Plan for 2025-2030, aligning with PennDOT's 2% annual fatality reduction target. The plan adopts the Safe System Approach, aiming to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries by:
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