Strategic Transportation Safety Plan
About STSP
Vision
The future of Colorado is zero deaths and serious injuries so all people using any transportation mode arrive at their destination safely.
Mission
Colorado agencies and partners will cooperatively implement strategies that eliminate transportation system fatalities and serious injuries.
Identify Strategies
The STSP identifies several strategies that will help Colorado become a national leader in safety.
Set Performance Targets
The STSP targets a 15% reduction in fatalities and serious injuries for both off-system and on-system crashed by 2023.
Background
The State of Colorado is committed to the well-being of its citizens and visitors, and wants to be even more effective in improving roadway safety around our state. The STSP establishes a collaborative and shared vision and mission for the transportation safety in Colorado. It relies on the premise that every agency and jurisdiction has a role in enhancing transportation safety for every transportation mode in Colorado through policy, planning, funding, design and construction, operations, and maintenance. The STSP identifies strategies and countermeasures with the highest potential to save lives and prevent injuries.
Collaboration
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) are the lead agencies that directed the development of the STSP.
The strategic collaboration between these lead agencies and various safety agencies and initiatives across the state of Colorado is essential to the execution of the STSP Tier I Strategies and the achievement of the STSP performance target: a 15% reduction in fatalities and serious injuries statewide by 2023.
Additional Information
Please contact the STSP implementation and planning team via email at [email protected]. We will do our best to respond promptly.
Browse the STSP & Other Related Topics
Strategy Partners
The STSP development process is an opportunity to update statewide direction on transportation safety based upon data driven and statewide needs. The STSP is the State of Colorado's overall strategic safety plan for state agencies, cities, counties, and other organizations and advocacy groups. Essential to the STSP development process is the coordination with numerous national, international, state, and local strategic safety plans, programs, initiatives, projects, and tasks for various transportation modes. These efforts inform and support the STSP. We have identified the strategy partners by agencies, initiatives, organizations, and stakeholders below. If your agency, initiative, or organization is not listed, please contact us.
Lead Agency
A
American Association of Retired Persons
American Automobile Association
American Council of Engineering Companies
American Road & Transportation Builders Association
American Traffic Safety Services Association
B
C
CDOT Traffic Safety & Engineering Services
Central Front Range Transportation Planning Region
Colorado Association of Road Supervisors and Engineers
Colorado Contractors Association
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Colorado Department of Revenue
Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles
Colorado Task Force on Drunk and Impaired Driving
Colorado Young Drivers Alliance
D
Denver Regional Council of Governments
Denver Transportation Planning Region
E
East Central Council of Governments
Eastern Transportation Planning Region
F
Federal Highway Administration
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
FHWA Office of Safety
FHWA National Highway Institute
G
Grand Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization
Grand Valley Transportation Planning Region
Gunnison Valley Transportation Planning Region
I
Intermountain Transportation Planning Region
L
Local Technical Assistance Program
M
Motorcycle Operator Safety Advisory Board
N
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Workzone Safety
North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization
North Front Range Transportation Planning Region
Northeast Colorado Association of Local Governments
Northwest Transportation Planning Region
P
Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments
Pikes Peak Transportation Planning Region
Pueblo Area Council of Governments
Pueblo Area Transportation Planning Region
R
Region 10 League for Economic Assistance and Planning
Road Safety Strategy
S
San Luis Valley Development Resources Group
San Luis Valley Transportation Planning Region
South Central Council of Governments
South Central Transportation Planning Region
Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development
Southeast Transportation Planning Region
Southwest Colorado Council of Governments
Southwest Transportation Planning Region
Statewide Traffic Records Advisory Committee
T
Transportation Commission, District 1
Transportation Commission, District 2
Transportation Commission, District 3
Transportation Commission, District 4
Transportation Commission, District 5
Transportation Commission, District 6
Transportation Commission, District 7
Transportation Commission, District 8
Transportation Commission, District 9
Transportation Commission, District 10
Transportation Commission, District 11
U
Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments
Upper Front Range Transportation Planning Region
V
W
Performance Targets
Implementation of the STSP strategies is anticipated to reduce the number and rate of fatalities and serious injuries in Colorado. The STSP identifies performance targets for these measures to be achieved over the 2020 to 2023 period of the plan. Achieving the performance targets is dependent upon the lead agencies’ attention and devotion of resources to implement the strategies.
Recognizing that the STSP vision will be realized over a long term, the Executive Committee established a 15% reduction in fatalities and serious injuries as the performance target for the 2020 to 2023 time frame. This target is both plausible and aggressive given the estimated effectiveness of the STSP strategies. Note: If vehicle miles traveled (VMT) increases as expected, a commensurate decease in crash rates will be required to achieve the targeted reduction in serious injuries and fatalities.
The same performance targets apply for all serious injuries and fatalities, as well as serious injuries and fatalities of non-motorized roadway users. These performance targets should influence, and be influenced by, Office of Transportation Safety (OTS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) targets.
Emphasis Areas
Emphasis Areas are a required element of strategic highway safety plans and are based on traffic crash data analysis and broad stakeholder input. The Emphasis Areas for the Colorado STSP were identified by the Steering Committee and participants at the Regional Stakeholder Workshops and were then further defined by the Emphasis Area Teams.
High-Risk Behavior
Aggressive Driving
Distracted Driving
Occupant Protection
Car Seat
Seat Belt
Impaired Driving
Vulnerable Roadway Users
Motorcyclists
Bicyclists and Pedestrians
Older Drivers
Young Drivers
Work Zones
First Responders
Severe Crash Mitigation
Infrastructure (Rural and Urban)
Crash Reduction Locations
Intersections
Roadway Departures
Programmatic
Data
Safety Program Coordination and Cooperation
Emergency Medical Services / Law Enforcement
Legislation
Tier I Strategies
Based on the Emphasis Areas, stakeholders identified 15 Tier I (highest priority) Strategies that focus on proven countermeasures and targeted deployment, utilize current technologies, and identify roles and responsibilities for implementation. A concise presentation of the Tier I Strategies information is provided below.
Key User Types
Each of these distinct users types identified below can play a crucial role in maximizing the safety improvements associated with the Tier I strategies.
Traffic Engineers
Law Enforcement
Emergency Services
Communication/Education
Advocacy Groups
Agency State Program Officials
Legislative Liaisons
A. Name a safety champion to lead a proactive safety program
The goal is to name a safety champion to lead an inclusive safety program with the responsibility, resources, and authority to advance safety strategies more effectively.
Action Items
Create and hire a safety-focused program lead
Progress Metrics
Safety program created
Key Partners
Advocacy Groups
B. Build a safety advocacy coalition
The goal is to build a safety coalition of advocacy groups and state and local agencies to function as a lobbying and advocacy group.
Action Items
Collaboration across multiple agencies
Identify representatives from key partners/agencies to join the coalition
Develop coalition charter (mission, vision, goals, and strategies)
Identify statewide safety needs that can be voiced by the coalition
Progress Metrics
Safety Coalition created
Number of safety coalition meetings
Percent of stakeholders who are coalition members
Key Partners
AAA
AARP
Advocacy Groups
City and County Agencies
C. Institutionalize safety roles and responsibilities
The goal is to establish agreements that define the ways agencies and organizations work together to deliver safety programs, including roles and responsibilities.
Action Items
Formalize safety-related roles among state agencies
Establish safety performance criteria for partners and key staff
Progress Metrics
Need for formal agreement is quantified
Percent of formal agreements executed
Key Partners
City and County Agencies
Local Law Enforcement
D. Coordinate with existing safety programs
The goal is to coordinate the development and implementation of safety programs, incorporating strategies among agencies at the federal, state, and local level.
Action Items
Facilitate communication among safety program leaders
Identify gaps and overlaps in roles and responsibilities
Build a matrix of major program strategies
Progress Metrics
A matrix of existing programs is established
Percent of the matrix that is complete
Key Partners
Regional, Local, State, and Federal Planning Agencies
Advocacy Groups
AAA
CDOT Task Forces
E. Promote consistent safety messaging
The goal is to coordinate efforts of safety agencies and advocacy groups to develop consistent safety messaging broadcast to audiences across the state.
Action Items
Develop common safety messaging
Create a matrix of existing messaging campaigns
Generate template materials for local and partner agencies
Progress Metrics
Message templates are created
Percent of safety entities using message templates
Message matrix is created
Key Partners
Advocacy Groups
City and County Agencies
Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Local Law Enforcement
F. Develop education campaigns for high-risk behaviors
The goal is to develop outreach campaigns on occupant protection education aimed at high-risk groups to enhance and coordinate efforts among statewide education platforms.
Action Items
Identify existing statewide and local education campaigns aimed at high-risk behaviors
Develop a communications team
Develop and launch high-risk education campaign for the general public
Progress Metrics
Number of campaigns created
Percent of safety entities promoting campaigns
Various behavioral metrics (e.g. seatbelt and helmet usage)
Key Partners
Advocacy Groups
CDOT Task Forces
Local Law Enforcement
G. Provide transportation safety education to student and families
The goal is to establish a culture of safety among young people through transportation education safety programs, including bicyclist and pedestrian courses.
Action Items
Establish partnership between CDOT and CDPHE to align and elevate existing transportation safety programs
Develop a comprehensive curriculum
Incorporate interactive training into education programs
Progress Metrics
Curriculum templates are created
Number of schools presenting curriculum
Number of schools presenting safety information
Key Partners
SRTS Programs
CDOT Highway Safety Office
Local Planning Agencies
Advocacy Groups
Law Enforcement
H. Prioritize transportation safety funding
The goal is to elevate the importance of funding safe infrastructure and transportation through decision-maker education on safety programs and improvements.
Action Items
Develop a transportation safety self-assessment tool for local and regional jurisdictions
Research and quantify overall state safety improvement needs
Conduct an analysis to determine the level of safety funding needed
Progress Metrics
The amount and percent of funding dedicated to safety by agency
Transportation Commission Safety Sub-Committee reinstated
STIP and TIP processes are amended
Key Partners
Directors of Regional and Local Planning Agencies
City Councils
Planning Commissioners
I. Prioritize safety in transportation planning, facility design, and project selection
The goal is to review policies and processes of roadway planning, design, and project selection and advocate for increasing the relevance of safety in those processes.
Action Items
Amend the STSP and MPO TIP to prioritize projects that address identified safety issues
Update CDOT design manual and local design guidelines with greater safety emphasis
Develop a road design manual for local facilities, rural areas, and urban highways
Develop model traffic calming design criteria and standards
Progress Metrics
CDOT design manual and local design guidelines are updated
Intersection Control Evaluation policy is adopted
STIP and TIP processes are amended
Key Partners
Directors of Regional and Local Planning Agencies
Public Work Departments
Local City Engineers
J. Education decision-makers on the effectiveness of occupant protection laws
The goal is to document the benefits of occupant protection laws (e.g. seatbelt usage, helmet use, restriction on the use of personal devices) and educate decision-makers on their benefits.
Action Items
Develop education materials for decision-makers and the general public
Engage advocacy groups to promote legislative changes
Develop safety awareness test for decision-makers
Progress Metrics
Decision-maker safety awareness test scores
Number of education materials produced for decision-makers
Key Partners
CDHS
Local Law Enforcement
AAA
Emergency Medical Responders
Rocky Mountain Insurance Advisors
Advocacy Groups
Local Governments
K. Increase requirements for new and renewal driver licensing
The goal is to expand the graduated driver licensing (GDL) system to increase education and practice requirements for new drivers to obtain a license. Develop testing requirements to verify driver competency with aging.
Action Items
Compare Colorado requirements and crash data for new and older drivers with peer states
Educate decision-makers via legislative liaisons
Work with law enforcement and medical professionals to evaluate driving competency and referral system
Progress Metrics
Change driver licensing requirements
Percent of crashes and severe crashes of younger and older drivers
Key Partners
CDOT's Occupant Protection Task Force
Colorado Young Driver Alliance
Colorado Public Utilities
AARP
AAA
Drive Smart Colorado
L. Establish a framework for streamlining data management
The goal is to improve data gathering, reporting, storage, linkage, processing, analysis, and dissemination throughout the state by creating traffic records databases following the FHWA measures of quality.
Action Items
Create a statewide web-based crash data entry form for consistent data entry by law enforcement
Coordinate and communicate with state and local agencies that manage crash data
Progress Metrics
Percent of law enforcement agencies that adopt the web-based crash data entry form
Number of meetings for Statewide Traffic Advisory Committee
Number of meetings for leadership liaison group
Key Partners
Any stakeholders involved in the Statewide Traffic Advisory Committee (STRAC)
City, County, and Local Enforcement
M. Prioritize and promote proven safety toolbox strategies
The goal is to educate state and local engineers on effective safety toolbox strategies and promote their use in design practices and Local Road Safety Plans. Advocate for funding to implement proven strategies and prioritize safety in facility design.
Action Items
Prioritize proven countermeasures in the design of transportation facilities and Local Roadway Safety Plans
Develop a technology toolbox of proven safety countermeasure
Educate state and local traffic engineers on proven safety countermeasures
Develop a safety self-assessment tool for local jurisdiction
Progress Metrics
Number and crash rates of fatal, serious injury, bicycle, and pedestrian crashes
Number and percent increase of safety infrastructure features (e.g. miles of median barrier, miles of rumble strips, and others)
Key Partners
City and County Transportation Departments
CDOT Safety Circuit Rider
N. Implement systemic infrastructure safety improvement strategies
The goal is to build on existing safety implementation projects and programs. Identify and implement most effective wide-scale systemic safety mitigation strategies simultaneously with hotspot improvement projects.
Action Items
Identify systemic safety measures to address most common crash types
Develop and dedicate funding program to implement proven strategies
Expand the CDOT Safety Circuit Rider program
Continue edgeline striping and median barrier installation program on rural highways
Progress Metrics
Number and crash rates of fatal, serious injury, bicycle, and pedestrian crashes
Number and percent increase of safety infrastructure features (e.g. miles of median barrier, miles of rumble strips, and others)
Key Partners
City and County Transportation Departments
CDOT Regional Traffic Engineers
O. Increase education on and implementation of data-driven and automated enforcement
The goal is to increase application of data-driven enforcement for speeding and red-light running at high crash locations. Education decision-makers on the effectiveness of automated enforcement as a safety enhancement.
Action Items
Publish a white paper on the effectiveness of automated and data-driven enforcement at improving safety
Create a how-to guide for local agencies on the implementation of automated and data-driven enforcement
Progress Metrics
Number and percent of communities with policies favorable for automated and data-driven enforcement
Number of locations that have demonstrated improvements in safety performance due to automated and data-driven enforcement
Key Partners
CDOT's Office of Transportation Safety
Local Agencies
Law Enforcement
2023 Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Safety Assessment and the Safe System Approach
Colorado’s Vulnerable Road User Safety (VRU) Assessment is an addendum to the Colorado 2020-2023 Strategic Transportation Safety Plan (STSP) that serves as a roadmap that describes safety issues facing people walking and bicycling in the state and how to best address them. It is a high-level planning document that begins the process of applying the Safe System Approach to roadway safety for VRUs. This document will be updated with each subsequent revision of the state's strategic safety plan and incorporate additional consultation of safety stakeholders across Colorado as part of the next strategic safety plan update process.
Crash Data Dashboards
Transportation safety is a top priority for Colorado. CDOT Traffic Safety & Engineering Services developed performance dashboards displaying all reporting public roadway crashes in Colorado to better understand numbers, causes, types, and locations of crashes in order to develop effective countermeasures and meet performance targets.
Disclaimer: Colorado traffic crashes as presented in the dashboard are approximate and subject to change. The official number of traffic fatalities in Colorado can be found on NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) site.
