Safety Index (SI) measures the cost-benefit ratio of safety improvements by comparing accident cost savings to project implementation costs. It helps transportation engineers and policymakers prioritize investments in road safety by identifying the most cost-effective interventions. A higher SI indicates a greater return on investment in terms of accident prevention and reduced fatalities. This metric is crucial for optimizing budget allocation and ensuring maximum safety impact per dollar spent.
Critical for justifying safety expenditures, comparing alternative projects, and optimizing limited safety budgets to achieve maximum risk reduction.
SI index helps prioritize safety projects by quantifying their economic efficiency in reducing accidents.
FHWA's Benefit-Cost Analysis Guide provides standard accident costs. AASHTO's Roadway Safety Design Guide includes effectiveness factors.
The Safety Index transforms safety engineering into quantifiable economics, enabling transparent decision-making about which life-saving projects deliver the greatest value per dollar invested.