Roadway Safety

Read the new Strategic Highway Safety Plan (2022-2026)

Our roadway safety program is the Hazard Elimination Program for Existing Roads and Streets (HELPERS). This program is housed at Indiana LTAP and funded by INDOT.

HELPERS provides the following services, performed by a professional engineer, at no cost to local agencies:

  • Road safety audits
  • Crash data and analysis, including GIS maps
  • Federal and state funding application assistance
  • On-site training in roadway safety topics
  • On-site training on the Indiana Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
  • Low-cost safety improvement ideas
  • Traffic studies

Highway Safety Improvement Program 

The Federal Highway Administration provides funding for roadway safety improvements through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). HSIP provides 90 percent of the funding for eligible safety projects. HSIP funds are administered by INDOT through its annual call for projects. For more information on HSIP, visit the INDOT website.

Assistance with the HSIP applications is available through HELPERS. To determine if your project is eligible for HSIP funding and learn what is required to apply, contact LTAP.

Road Safety Audits

A Road Safety Audit (RSA) is a formal safety/performance examination of an existing or future road or intersection by an independent, multidisciplinary team. The RSA team identifies potential road safety issues and lists opportunities for safety improvements for all road users. Improvements vary from short-term/low cost to long-term/higher cost.

An audit is required by INDOT in order to receive federal safety (HSIP) funds. The HELPERS program can lead or facilitate RSAs for local agencies.

Please see below for before and after images of RSA projects.

Country road before Road Safety project Country road before Road Safety project
Country road after Road Safety project Country road after Road Safety project

GIS maps and Crash Summary Reports 

Geographic Information system (GIS) shape files, GIS heat maps and crash summaries are available by request. Rural local agency personnel may request their crash data by contacting LTAP. Urban local agencies should request this information from their Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

Events and Updates

Please see below for information about events, updates and upcoming calls for projects.

Oversee more than 80,000 miles of Indiana roadway