Approved by the Transportation Policy Committee October 27, 2025
Approved by the Policy Review Committee on January 28, 2026
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 21, 2026

Policy

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is committed to reducing traffic crashes and their associated fatalities, injuries, and property damage. This objective can be achieved by enhancing every phase of highway system planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation, and by placing a strong emphasis on safety improvement programs and developing and deploying technological innovations.

Among other measures, highway safety programs should include:  

  • Provide a safe environment for all users of the highway system.
  • Reduce the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities on the highways, including work zones, with a Safe System Approach to achieve zero highway fatalities and serious injuries. 
  • Increase public awareness of safety issues and encouraging responsible behavior among all users of the highways.
  • Implement effective engineering, research, education, and enforcement strategies to improve highway safety.
  • Continue to improve the understanding of rapidly evolving vehicle characteristics and their impact on infrastructure and safety.
  • Develop educational campaigns for highway users to promote responsible behavior and safe practices, working with educational institutions community organizations, government partners, and others. 
  • Provide increased flexibility in federal-aid funding programs and environmental regulations for high-priority highway safety improvement programs.
  • Support legislation that reduces distracted and impaired driving, increases penalties for all driver violations, and removes users who consistently operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Issue

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 39,345 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2024 (almost 110 fatalities per day, equivalent to a small passenger jet crash per day. Although there has been a slight drop in traffic deaths in recent years, fatality levels remain significantly higher than they were a decade ago. Drivers killed 3,304 pedestrians in the first half of 2024 (almost 20 deaths per day), a 2.6% decrease from the previous year but a 48% increase from 2014, according to data from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Traffic fatalities in the U.S. are higher than those reported by other countries. A study of 31 nations by Australia’s Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics found the U.S. had the second-highest fatality rate. The economic impact of crashes is also notable. The National Safety Council estimated that total motor vehicle crashes cost $513.8 billion in 2023. 

As highway usage continues to grow, industry, federal, state, and local cooperation and funding are needed to preserve mobility while reducing the frequency, rates, and severity of traffic crashes. This effort should include a vigorous, enhanced, and integrated program of safety research, effective engineering-related system improvements, aggressive enforcement of laws, and highway user education and training to save lives and reduce injuries and property damage. The status quo comes with a high price tag. 

Rationale

Highway safety is essential, as safer systems reduce loss of life, personal injuries, and economic costs. Highway safety initiatives include public awareness and education, sound engineering and operational practices, effective enforcement, and ongoing research supported by the analysis and development of new and innovative traffic safety products and technologies to meet safety goals. These initiatives must also consider the behavior of all highway users, vehicle systems and features, adjacent environments, and the interactions among these elements.

ASCE Policy Statement 367
First Approved in 1990

The other ASCE policies that relate to highway safety are:  
PS 548 Connected and Autonomous Vehicles 
PS 552 Vision Zero 
PS 454 Intelligent Transportation Systems
PS 537 Complete Streets