Safety Analysis Guide

The purpose of this guide is to provide guidance to WDOT staff regarding expectations for safety analysis. This guide defines the focus, scale, and scope of safety analyses across the different WSDOT program areas as well as safety analysis outside the typical program areas. The target audience for the document is staff that have the responsibility for safety analysis as part of program and project development and associated activities. 

This document is also for those who decide on the appropriate scale and scope of the safety analysis for a project. This guide will include current documentation policies related to safety analysis and assumptions considered reasonable to make within the current WSDOT context. The goal of this guide is to support integration of safety performance considerations throughout planning, project development, operations, maintenance, and other WDOT activities, projects, and programs without creating undue burden, staying practical and focusing on high value for effort. 

This document is currently one of two guides for safety analysis, the other focuses on planning level safety analysis. These two documents will be consolidated into a single document in future updates. The guide provides guidance in a manner that balances the simplicity of a safety analysis with the thoroughness of a safety analysis that aids in making sound decisions that are data driven and science based. 

The guide is intended to supplement sound engineering judgement and experience based on specific project conditions, context, and modal priorities. Engineering judgement should also be used to address items not covered in this guide. The guide does not replace the WSDOT Design Manual (DM), rather it supports the DM by clarifying safety analysis components that are not easily described within the DM.