Many motor vehicle traffic crashes occur every year on U.S. highways. Their impacts on the victims, families and the economy have become a significant and continuing concern and challenge to various agencies of the U.S. government, private companies and organizations, as well as the American people. On average, 37,913 deaths, 2,125,000 injuries and 4,311,556 property damage crashes occurred on our highways each year between 1988 and 1996. This high cost for enhanced mobility is unacceptable. Reducing these numbers is a top priority of the Department of Transportation which called for the development of a comprehensive method to improve highway traffic safety.; U.S. highways provide the access, mobility and security for moving people and freight to their destinations and, therefore, should be safe.; U.S. motor vehicle crash trends, data, statistics, vehicles and people involved, states and cities of occurrence, other crash characteristics, and efforts made to reduce crashes from 1988 to 1996 were reviewed. Crash data analysis revealed problems with multiple causes that support the need for a comprehensive solution. A literature review of highway traffic safety improvement techniques that focused on driver improvement, roadway improvement, vehicle improvement, and reduction in the use of alcohol and other drugs was performed and the findings summarized. Several existing highway traffic safety improvement methods, such as Traffic Safety and Safety Management System approaches, were reviewed and summarized. The concept of a comprehensive method was developed, and a new and more effective approach developed by combining or integrating four selected approaches. Adequate funding, public support and involvement necessary for the success of the method are planned.; Two separate questionnaires were used to collect data. The Delphi techniques were used to help refine data and improve results. The approach was calibrated and validated.; Analysis of the second questionnaire results showed that the comprehensive approach can be used to achieve significant reductions in fatal, injury and property damage only crashes, respectively. Implementation of this comprehensive method is expected to have saved 14,941 lives in 1996 and reduced injury and property damage-only crashes by 676,800 and 909,600 respectively, hence the purpose of this dissertation.
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