The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)'s new certificate-based training provides an in-depth understanding of the Safe System Approach and its application. "Safe System" is a holistic approach to achieving zero traffic-related serious injuries and fatalities.

At its foundation, the Safe System Approach acknowledges that humans make mistakes and are vulnerable to crash impacts. It's a change from traditional safety practice that's based on shared responsibility, redundancy, and proactive action across five elements: Safe Road Users, Safe Vehicles, Safe Roads, Safe Speeds, and Post-Crash Care. 

This online blending learning course will consist of pre-recorded modules delivered by subject matter experts and four live instructor-led discussion sessions. Live sessions will consist of answering questions students have from the preceding modules, highlighting various topic areas with interactive components and potential live presentations by guest instructors. The remaining sessions are pre-recorded and broken into sub-modules.  

The audience for this training includes transportation planners, engineers, safety analysts, public health professionals, and other stakeholders with shared responsibility within the Safe System. Participants will be awarded an ITE "Implementing the Safe System Approach" course certificate upon completion of all live and pre-recorded sessions, confirmation of knowledge quizzes, required homework assignments, and course evaluation.

Training Topics:

• Introduction to Safe System Theory & Practice
• Shared Responsibility & The System Steward
• Safe System & Public Health Considerations
• Equity & Community Engagement
• Human Factors & Traffic Safety Culture
• Funding Safe System Implementation
• Managing Speed with a System Approach
• Planning for Safe System Implementation
• Implementing & Evaluating Safe System Interventions
• Safe System Interventions for Common Road Safety Problems
• Building & Maintaining Partnerships for Safe System Interventions

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize limitations of conventional approaches to safety policy, planning, & practice.
• Explore a balance of responsibility between road users and system owners.
• Apply Safe System principles to support transportation & health equity.
• Understand what shapes human behavior & traffic safety culture.
• Identify how to develop a Vision Zero or Comprehensive Safety Action Plan.
• Learn to work with political leaders, community activists, & other key stakeholders.
• Understand the safe systems pyramid and fundamentals of public health for safety.
• Use qualitative/quantitative data to support proactive and systemic safety planning.
• Influencing speed through road design, operational considerations, & behavior change.
• Implement Safe System interventions based on different contexts and road users.
• Recognize barriers to adoption, including institutional & professional incentives.
• Propose approaches for initiating & sustaining local cross-sector collaborations.
• Compare methods for evaluating the effectiveness of Safe System interventions.
• Identify funding sources & opportunities for Safe System Implementation.

Instructors:

• Meghan F. Mitman, AICP, RSP2I, Lead Developer, FEHR & PEERS
• Luana Broshears, PhD, PE, PTOE, RSP2i, Planning & Safety Director, ITE
• Possible Guest Instructors

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