Indian Highway Safety Program

Mission Statement of the BIA Indian Highway Safety Program

“To reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes in Indian Country by supporting Education, Enforcement, and Engineering, as well as Safe Tribal Community Programs.”

The Highway Safety Act of 1966, USC Title 23, Section 402, provides U.S. Dept. of Transportation funding to assist federally recognized Indian Tribes in implementing traffic safety projects on Indian Reservations in the United States. The program is administered by the BIA Indian Highway Safety Program (IHSP). Oversight is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Region 6, Fort Worth, Texas.

In accordance with 49 CFR 18.40 (Common Rule) the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) and, the Indian Highway Safety Program (IHSP) is responsible for monitoring grants and sub grants. The monitoring process is to assure that Federal requirements and performance targets are being achieved. The monitoring process also assists the highway safety projects to identify actions needed to be taken to improve their highway safety program and to become in compliance with the IHSP Law Enforcement Agreements.

The IHSP Law Enforcement Liaison (LEL) is primarily responsible for monitoring and communicates with projects on a weekly basis. On-site monitoring is performed on a routine basis and can also be conducted by other members of the IHSP staff. Normally, projects are given a two week notice before the LEL is actually on site to conduct a review of the program. An On-Site Project Review Checklist is provided to the project beforehand to assist in preparing for the visit:

After the visit the IHSP will follow-up with the project to inform them of their program assessment and provide a plan for performance improvements if needed and, to answer any questions, issues, concerns or comments from the project.

The IHSP strives to assist the project in any means possible through the monitoring process in hopes of working together for keeping roads in Indian Country safe.

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