United States Road Assessment Program: pilot program: phase II

The primary objectives of the potential usRAP program are to: 1. reduce death and serious injury on U.S. roads rapidly through a program of systematic assessment of risk that identifies major safety shortcomings, which can be addressed by practical road improvement measures; 2. ensure that assessment of risk lies at the heart of strategic decisions on route improvements, crash protection, and standards of route management. The objectives are identical to the objectives of the ongoing EuroRAP and AusRAP programs. As envisioned, usRAP would be implemented as a cooperative effort by highway agencies and auto clubs to accomplish the important objectives presented above. At the heart of the usRAP concept is that highway agencies need the support of auto clubs and the general public to make the case for investments to bring about a substantial reduction in highway crashes. Better information on the safety performance of the roads the motoring public travels should create additional dialogue and public debate on road safety, something that is sorely needed, which in turn can create support for greater investment in highway safety and can help to target those investments to the locations with the greatest need.