The 4Es of Safety
What are the 4Es of Safety?
A safe transportation system requires a holistic approach built on the 4Es: Education, Enforcement, Engineering, and Emergency Response. These pillars form the foundation of the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), guiding its goals, objectives, and strategies to improve road safety.
Education
A transportation system is only effective if users understand how it works and use it as intended. Education applies not only to drivers, but to all road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and micromobility users.
Enforcement
Safe transportation depends on responsible behavior by all road users. Effective enforcement helps prevent unsafe actions, mitigates risk, and holds individuals accountable to create a safer environment.
Engineering
Roads, bike paths, and sidewalks connect where we work, live, and play. Safety-focused engineering of this infrastructure is essential to overall roadway safety. The transportation network must be designed to ensure safe and accessible use for all users.
Emergency Response
Rapid and efficient emergency response is critical after a crash—it can save lives and prevent secondary collisions. The SHSP is developed with emergency responders to ensure continued priority is placed on safe crash scene access.
