National Center for Rural Road Safety: Essential Tools & Resources to Enhance Rural Road Safety

Table of Contents#

1. Introduction to the National Center for Rural Road Safety (NCRRS)
2. Core Resource Areas for Rural Road Safety
   • Proven Safety Countermeasures
   • Local Road Safety Plans
   • Safety Data Analysis Tools
3. Training & Capacity Building
   • Road Safety Champion Program
   • Webinars & Virtual Mini-Conferences
   • Technical Assistance
4. Community Engagement & Outreach Resources
   • Communicating Safety
   • Funding Resources
5. How to Access NCRRS Tools & Resources
6. Conclusion
7. References

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1. Introduction to the National Center for Rural Road Safety (NCRRS)#

Established through the MAP-21 federal transportation reauthorization bill in 2012 and funded by the FHWA, the NCRRS is the only federally sanctioned center focused solely on enhancing safety on rural roads. Its mission is to:

• Develop and share multidisciplinary rural road safety training, resources, and technical assistance that are dynamic, collaborative, and responsive.
• Empower state, local, and tribal agencies with effective safety tools and strategies.
• Advance the boundaries of traditional safety training through innovative methods and collaboration with existing safety organizations.

The center serves a diverse audience, including:

• State and local transportation departments
• Law enforcement agencies
• Rural community leaders
• Engineers and planners
• Tribal agencies
• Public health professionals

The NCRRS embraces multi-disciplinary approaches, including the 4Es of safety: Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Response. All resources are designed to be user-friendly, accessible, and tailored to the unique needs of rural environments—where resources may be limited and road conditions vary widely.

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2. Core Resource Areas for Rural Road Safety#

Data and analysis are the foundation of effective road safety. The NCRRS organizes its resources into key topic areas to help stakeholders identify high-risk areas, prioritize projects, and implement proven solutions.

Proven Safety Countermeasures#

FHWA’s Proven Safety Countermeasures initiative (PSCi) is a collection of countermeasures and strategies effective in reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries. The NCRRS provides guidance on implementing these countermeasures in rural contexts, including:

• Intersection lighting: 42% reduction in nighttime vehicle-pedestrian injury crashes.
• Roadway departure countermeasures: From 2016 to 2018, an average of 19,158 fatalities resulted from roadway departures—51% of all U.S. traffic fatalities.
• Rural-specific considerations: Guidance on which countermeasures are applicable to unpaved roads, low-volume routes, and resource-constrained communities.

Local Road Safety Plans#

A Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) provides a framework for identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing roadway safety improvements on local roads. The LRSP development process:

• Is tailored to local issues and needs.
• Results in a prioritized list of issues, risks, actions, and improvements.
• Can be used to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on local roads.
• Provides a foundation for consensus and focus that helps communities take proactive steps to prevent severe crashes.

Safety Data Analysis Tools#

The last two decades have brought significant advancements in data-driven decision-making. The NCRRS provides resources on:

• Highway Safety Manual: Guidance on applying the manual to rural contexts.
• Systemic Safety Project Selection Tool: A process for identifying contributing factors and implementing effective countermeasures.
• usRAP and Road Safety Audits: Tools for assessing road safety and identifying improvements.
• Crash data resources: Guidance on collecting, reporting, and using crash data effectively.

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3. Training & Capacity Building#

Even the best tools are useless without skilled professionals to use them. The NCRRS offers a range of training resources to build stakeholder capacity, with a focus on practical, immediately applicable knowledge.

Road Safety Champion Program#

The Road Safety Champion Program (RSCP) is a nationally recognized “Roadway Safety 101” training series designed for staff in transportation, public health, and first responder agencies. Participants who complete seven core modules and one career-focused pathway earn a Road Safety Champion Program Certificate. Core modules include:

• Introduction to Road Safety: Overview of safety trends and techniques for safety collaboration.
• Understanding Human Factors: Considering road user capabilities and limitations in policies and practices.
• Introduction to Traffic Safety Culture: Growing positive safety culture in communities.
• Overview of the MUTCD: Introduction to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
• Intersection of Transportation with Public Health and Law Enforcement: Collaborative approaches across disciplines.
• Reading the Roadway: Learning to identify safety issues during routine activities.
• Safety Analysis Process: Traditional site analysis and systemic analysis methods.

Career-focused pathways are available in Maintenance & Construction, Public Health, Planning & Engineering, and First Responder specializations.

Webinars & Virtual Mini-Conferences#

The NCRRS hosts webinars and virtual mini-conferences led by industry experts. These half-day virtual events deliver practical strategies to help practitioners save lives on rural roadways. Sessions include Q&A opportunities, allowing participants to ask questions and share insights with peers across the country. Recordings of past webinars are available in the NCRRS webinar archive.

Technical Assistance#

For communities needing personalized support, the NCRRS offers free technical assistance through its team of road safety experts. Services include:

• Consultations to develop tailored safety plans.
• Support for conducting road safety audits (RSA) to identify hazards.
• Connections to external experts when specialized knowledge is needed.
• Guidance on implementing the “4Es” framework (Engineering, Enforcement, Education, Emergency Response).

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4. Community Engagement & Outreach Resources#

Rural road safety is a community effort. The NCRRS provides resources to help engage residents and build support for safety initiatives.

Communicating Safety#

Because many fatalities take place on rural roads, getting the right messaging to rural road users and practitioners is crucial. The NCRRS’s Communicating Safety resources include:

• Tools and tips for changing beliefs and behaviors to result in safer roadways.
• Guidance on crafting effective safety messages for diverse rural audiences.
• Resources for addressing the unique communication challenges in rural areas, where audiences may be dispersed and media access limited.

Funding Resources#

Securing funding is imperative to bring rural road fatalities to zero. The NCRRS’s Funding resources include:

• Information on federal and state grant opportunities for rural safety projects.
• Guidance on applying for FHWA programs such as the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP).
• Resources from the DOT Navigator website, which helps rural stakeholders identify funding and financing opportunities.
• The DOT Competitive Grants Dashboard, which provides an overview of competitive grant opportunities for rural transportation safety projects.

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5. How to Access NCRRS Tools & Resources#

Accessing NCRRS resources is simple and free:

1. Visit the official NCRRS website at ruralsafetycenter.org.
2. Browse the resource library to find tools and training tailored to your role and your community’s needs.
3. Register for the Road Safety Champion Program to earn a nationally recognized safety certification.

To maximize your use of NCRRS resources:

• Subscribe to the NCRRS newsletter for updates on new resources and upcoming webinars.
• Attend virtual mini-conferences and webinars to learn from leading experts.
• Take advantage of free technical assistance services for personalized support.
• Connect with your Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) for training delivered at the local level.

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6. Conclusion#

Rural road safety is a critical issue that requires coordinated action from communities, agencies, and policymakers. With 41% of traffic fatalities occurring on rural roads despite only 20% of the population living in rural areas, the need for targeted safety interventions is clear. The National Center for Rural Road Safety provides an invaluable suite of tools, training, and resources to address these challenges—from proven safety countermeasures to the Road Safety Champion Program and free technical assistance. By leveraging these resources, stakeholders can identify risks, implement effective solutions, and ultimately save lives on rural roads.

Don’t wait to take action: visit ruralsafetycenter.org today and start building a safer future for your rural community.

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References#

1. National Center for Rural Road Safety. (n.d.). Resources. Retrieved from ruralsafetycenter.org/resources
2. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. (2026). Fatality Facts 2024: Urban/rural comparison. Retrieved from iihs.org
3. U.S. Department of Transportation. (2025). Rural Roadway Safety. Retrieved from transportation.gov/rural/safety
4. Federal Highway Administration. (n.d.). Local and Rural Road Safety Program. Retrieved from highways.dot.gov/safety/local-rural
5. National Center for Rural Road Safety. (n.d.). About the Center. Retrieved from ruralsafetycenter.org/about