The US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) sponsored an international technology scanning study that investigated the management and organization of comprehensive highway safety programmes in Europe. The study, conducted in March 2002, included visits to Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The objective of the scanning study was to investigate and review the supporting mechanisms used in planning, developing, and implementing highway safety programmes. The policies, strategies, analytical tools, outreach efforts, and public-private sector relationships that guide these activities were examined. Of particular interest to the study team were: (1) The existence, content, and effectiveness of a national safety goal or plan; (2) The decision-making processes and management policies and procedures used to prioritize elements of a highway safety programme; (3) The resources, analytical tools, and legislative policies that guide and support highway safety decisions and priorities; and (4) examples or results of succesful highway safety programmes produced by the decision-making process, as well as agency integration and interaction. Each country the team visited during the scanning study provided information with potential to significantly influence highway safety management and organization in the US. Key findings from each country and commonalities among the highway safety programmes are described in this report. Examples of roadway safety programmes and activities are also listed for each country. The information gathered and the study findings resulted in several potential recommendations and useful examples for the US highway safety programme. Four recommendations are outlined in the report.
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