Infrastructure improvements play a vital role in traffic safety. These enhancements help prevent crashes from occurring and significantly reduce the severity of injuries when crashes do happen.
The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) implements essential roadway safety improvements through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). This initiative encompasses both state and local road safety programs to ensure a comprehensive approach to traveler protection. Our safety programs focus on systematic, low-cost solutions that can be applied across many locations simultaneously. By deploying these proven strategies broadly, we can more effectively reduce the frequency and severity of crashes throughout the state.
Designing roads with safety as a primary focus helps protect every road user, from motorists to pedestrians. Through the HSIP, North Dakota continues to invest in infrastructure that accounts for human error and prioritizes the goal of Vision Zero.
Strategic roadway engineering and infrastructure improvements are designed to:
- Reduce conflicts between different road users, such as vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
- Help drivers stay on the roadway through better guidance and warnings.
- Slow traffic in high-risk or high-pedestrian areas to manageable speeds.
- Reduce the severity of crashes by creating a more forgiving roadside environment.
North Dakota utilizes proven, cost-effective safety strategies to address risks on both rural and urban roads. These solutions are not random; they are carefully selected based on specific crash data and roadway characteristics to address the highest safety risks in the state.