Safe System Approach
The region's Safety Plan is organized around the Safe Systems Approach. Each policy – Safer People, Safer Roads, Safer Vehicles, Safer Speeds, and Post-Crash Care – is supported by actions to improve safety. The Safe System Approach refocuses transportation system design and operation on anticipating human mistakes and lessening impact forces to reduce crash severity and save lives.
The Safe System Approach (SSA) is a human-centered, holistic approach that aims to eliminate fatal and serious injuries for all road users. It seeks safety through vehicle and road design, as well as operational changes, rather than relying only on behavior changes. While Safer People is an important element of the SSA, this approach also anticipates human mistakes, and through a redundant system, strives to minimize the impact on the human body if a crash does occur. It is the tool that MDOT will use as we work toward achieving our goal of Toward Zero Deaths on Michigan roads.
As such, the Safer People policy complements the other policies and is supported by actions to "Encourage safe, responsible behavior by people who use our roads and create conditions that prioritize their ability to reach their destination unharmed" is supported by Safe Streets, SEMCOG's program to educate people on safe, responsible behaviors.
The purpose of the Southeast Michigan Transportation Safety Plan is to identify the region’s key safety needs and guide investment decisions to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways for all road users, while promoting safe travel for all modes. This plan builds upon the 2015 Southeast Michigan Traffic Safety Plan and provides a comprehensive and aspirational framework for eliminating fatalities and serious injuries on Southeast Michigan roadways by 2050 using the Safe System Approach.