In an effort to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries, Congress included a requirement in SAFETEA—LU for each state to develop and implement an SHSP. While all states accomplished this by 2007, the pace, vigor, and effectiveness of SHSP implementation has varied. Properly designed peer exchanges between state DOTs–that also include their safety partners–have been identified as a cost-effective means for state DOTs and safety advocates to identify ways to improve implementation of their SHSPs and inform safety-related resource allocation decisions. Peer exchanges can provide state DOTs with new ideas and approaches for overcoming SHSP implementation barriers. Under NCHRP Project 17-52, Leidos, Inc. was asked to develop guidance and provide supportive materials for an individual state to use in voluntarily developing and implementing a peer exchange that is focused narrowly on evaluating or improving its own SHSP. The report identifies potential tasks and the timelines necessary to plan and conduct a peer exchange. It also provides guidance on ensuring that invited peers have necessary and relevant expertise and experience, discusses the characteristics of successful host state participants, and includes samples of documentation needed to prepare the peer exchange participants (e.g., peer exchange objectives, agendas, and discussion guides). Budget constraints and limits on travel currently being experienced by many jurisdictions may, however, affect their ability to conduct or participate in a face-to-face SHSP peer exchange. These and other obstacles to conducting such a peer exchange were examined and potential solutions–such as holding “virtual peer exchanges”–were identified. In addition to NCHRP Report 764,the contractor’s Final Project Report that contains the results of the literature review, detail on research methodology and the results of field tests of the guidance, and a discussion of future research needs is available on the TRB project website. (Author/publisher)
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