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Making Our Roads Safer Through The Safe System Approach

We all want to get home safely at the end of the day.  But here is the truth: Humans make mistakes. Even the best drivers can have a momentary lapse in focus.

The Safe System Approach is a new way of looking at road safety. It looks at how we can build a "safety net" into our transportation system. The goal is simple: ensure that when a mistake happens on the road, it doesn't result in a death or a serious injury.

The Five Elements of a Safe System

To make this work, local roadway owners in Ohio can focus on five key areas:

1. Safe Road Users: This isn't just about drivers. It includes people walking, biking, and riding the bus. We need to design roads that encourage everyone to follow the rules and stay alert.
2. Safe Vehicles: Modern cars have enhanced safety features like automatic braking. Encouraging the use of these features when possible to protect everyone on the road.
3. Safe Speeds: Speed is a big factor in crash severity. Higher speeds make it harder to stop and make impacts much more severe.
4. Safe Roads: We can design roads to encourage safety. This means adding things like rumble strips, clear signage, and roundabouts that naturally slow traffic down and prevent T-bone crashes.
5. Post-Crash Care: When a crash does happen, every second counts. Improving how quickly emergency responders can get to the scene and get individuals to a hospital saves lives.

What Local Roadway Owners Can Do

If you manage roads for a village, city, township, or county, you don’t need a massive budget to start using this approach. Here are a few ways to begin:

• Consider Lower Speed Limits: Look at areas with lots of pedestrians and evaluate if the speed limit is truly safe for a human body to withstand an impact.
• Improve Visibility: Clear away brush that blocks stop signs and make sure pavement markings are bright and easy to see at night.
• Install Roundabouts: They might be different than what people are used to, but roundabouts are much safer than traditional four-way intersections because they eliminate the possibility of high-speed, t-bone crashes.
• Understand and Utilize Your Data: Look at where crashes are happening most often in your community. Use data to decide where to spend your safety budget first.

It’s Time to Act

We can no longer accept traffic deaths as "just part of life." By using the Safe System Approach, we acknowledge our roads can be designed with a "safety net" to protect us anyway.

Your Call to Action: Start today by picking one intersection or one stretch of road in your jurisdiction. Look at it through the lens of the Safe System Approach. Ask yourself: "If a driver makes a mistake here tomorrow, will they survive?" If the answer is no, it’s time to make a change. Let’s work together to make Ohio’s local roads the safest they can be. ◇

FHWA Safe System Approach Tools

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides a robust suite of Safe System Approach (SSA) Tools designed to help with implementation.  Please select a topic below to view more information. 

• Safe System Assessment Framework
• Crash Modification Factors Clearinghouse
• Proven Safety Countermeasures
• SAFE ROADS
• Road Safety Audits

Upcoming Training

• Relocation 101: Uniform Act & Basic Relocation Assistance - Real Estate Academy (Columbus) – 3/2/2026
• Ohio Safe Flagger Operations and Required PPE Training – (Webinar) – 3/5
• NHI - Bridge Inspection Refresher Training (Columbus) – 3/10
• Acquisition 103 - Special Negotiations (Part A) (Columbus) – 3/11
• Acquisition 103 - Special Negotiations (Part B) (Columbus) – 3/17
• MUTCD Updates Session 1: General Overview, How to use new Ohio MUTCD, Part 1 (General) and Appendices Webinar – (Webinar) - 3/19
• Ohio Traffic Incident Management (OTIM) Training (Lebanon) – 3/24
• Work Zone Traffic Control & Safety (Columbus) – 3/26 [Full]
• Acquisition 105 - Closing and Taxes (Columbus) – 4/1
• MUTCD Updates Session 2: Quick Overview on how to use manual and Parts 2 & 3 (Signs and Markings) – (Webinar) – 4/2
• Dredging Materials & Use Results Presentation – (Webinar) – 4/7
• Evaluation Methods for Ohio's Post-World War II (WWII) Residential Properties – (Webinar) – 4/13
• Ohio Traffic Incident Management (OTIM) Training –(Ashland) 4/15
• When and How to Update Your School Travel Plan – (Webinar) – 4/15
• Work Zone Traffic Control & Safety (Akron) – 4/16
• MUTCD Updates Session 3: Quick Overview on how to use manual and Parts 4, 5, & 8 (Signals, CV/AV, Rail Crossings) – (Webinar) – 4/16
• Herbicide Applicator Recertification Program (Columbus) – 4/21
• Work Zone Traffic Control & Safety (Bowling Green) – 4/23
• MUTCD Updates Session 4: Quick Overview on how to use manual and Part 6 (Temporary Traffic Control) – (Webinar) – 4/29

ISSUE 1, Volume 43

A New Era for Construction Inspection: Online Testing and Training Is Here!

Great news for Ohio’s local roadway agencies, consultants, and contractors! To better serve our partners and modernize the prequalification process, the Ohio LTAP Center and the ODOT Division of Construction Management have officially transitioned construction inspection testing to a fully online format.

You no longer need to travel to a proctored site in Columbus to take your exams. You can now complete your required testing from your own office or home, providing more flexibility and saving your agency or employer valuable time and travel costs.

New eLearning Modules: Your Key to Success

To ensure everyone is prepared for the new online exams, we have launched Construction Inspection Training Program (CITP) modules. These modules serve as a prerequisite—you must complete the corresponding eLearning module before the system will allow you to take the online test.

Each module takes about 60 to 90 minutes to complete and covers the essential "need-to-know" information for field inspections.

Pro Tip: While you only need to take the eLearning module once, it remains available in your account as a reference tool even after you finish your test!

What You Need to Know About Online Testing

The move to online testing makes the process faster, but the standards remain high. Here are the ground rules for the new system:

• Time Limits: You have a maximum of 90 minutes to complete each test.
• Passing Scores: Most tests require an 80% to pass, while the Compaction test requires a 90%.
• Retakes: If you don’t pass on your first try, you can try again! However, you are limited to one attempt per day to give you time to review the materials.
• Open Resource: All necessary manuals and links are built right into the test. We highly recommend using two monitors: one to keep the test open and one to view the electronic reference resources.

How to Get Started

Ready to get certified? Follow these simple steps:

1. Log In: Visit the LTAP eLearning System and log in with your MyODOT account.
2. Search: Go to the "Course Catalog" and search for "CITP".
3. Enroll: Click "Enroll" for the eLearning module first, then for the test you wish to take.
4. Launch: Go to "My Courses" and launch your training!

Pro Tip:  If you don’t already have a MyODOT account, please visit the MyODOT login to request one. 

Don't wait for the busy construction season to arrive! Log in to the eLearning portal today, complete your CITP modules, and take advantage of the new online testing to get your prequalifications up to date. ◇

Save the Date:  Upcoming 2026 Ohio Conferences

• APWA North American Snow Conference – April 26 – 29, 2026
• CEAO Ohio Bridge Conference – August 11 – 12, 2026
• CEAO GIS Conference – September 20 – 22, 2026
• Ohio Transportation Engineering Conference (OTEC) – October 20 – 21, 2026
• 10^th Annual Ohio Roundabouts Conference – December 2, 2026
• CCAO/CEAO Winter Conference – December 8 – 11, 2026

Looking for a Roads Scholar Update?  It will be published in the next edition of our newsletter and will include everyone who has earned their Roads Scholar Levels 1, 2, 3, or Safety Distinction since mid-2025.  Stay tuned!

Questions? Feedback?

Drop us a line, ltap@dot.ohio.gov