Strategic Highway Safety Plan Challenge Areas

The California Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) has identified 16 Challenge Areas that traffic safety efforts should focus on. These Challenge Areas were identified through historical data evaluations and feedback from traffic safety stakeholders across the state. They represent areas that statistically create the greatest challenges to road safety and or provide the greatest opportunity to achieve the goal of zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all of California’s public roadways.

Challenge Areas use crash level or victim level data depending on the nature of the Challenge Area. Crash level data is calculated based on the total number of fatality and serious injury involved crashes related to the Challenge Area. Victim level data is based on the specific number of fatal or seriously injured victims within that Challenge Area.

The definitions are for the purpose of providing a general understanding of the California SHSP Challenge Areas and should not be considered definitions for the purpose of legal proceedings. Refer to the California Codes that are applicable for full legal definitions.

Challenge Areas

All Challenge Area teams focus on developing strategies that assist in reducing traffic incidents along with fatal and serious injury crash for their respective areas of focus. General safety improvements through education, awareness and research are also included as part of the work of Challenge Areas.

Explore the facts of these Challenge Area by clicking on a graphic. 

Aging Drivers   Bicyclists   Commercial Vehicles   Distracted Driving
Aging Drivers   Bicyclist   Commercial Vehicles   Distract Driving
Driving Licensing   Emergency Response   Emerging Technologies   Impaired Driving
Driver Licensing   Emergency Response     Impaired Driving
Intersections   Lane Departures   Motorcyclists   Occupant Protection
Intersections   Lane Departures   Motorcyclists   Occupant Protection
Pedestrians   Speed Management Aggressive Driving   Work Zone   Young Drivers
Pedestrians   Speed Management Aggressive Driving   Work Zone   Young Drivers