The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) continues the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, including non-State-owned public roads and roads on tribal lands. The HSIP requires a data-driven, strategic approach to improving highway safety on all public roads that focuses on performance.
State DOTs and MPOs are expected to establish and report Safety performance measure targets annually.
For each of the below five performance measures, MPOs can agree to support the State DOT targets, or establish their own target specific to the MPO planning area:
- Total number of traffic-related fatalities on all public roads
- Rate of traffic-related fatalities on all public roads per 100 million VMT
- Total number of traffic-related serious injuries on all public roads
- Rate of traffic-related serious injuries on all public roads per 100 million VMT
- Total number of non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads
On February 26th, 2026, the Transportation Policy Board (TPB) of the Memphis MPO approved a resolution to support the update to the annual target (previously adopted February 27, 2025) for both the State of Tennessee and Mississippi, which are shown in the table below:
| Tennessee (TDOT) | Mississippi (MDOT) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAFETY PERFORMANCE MEASURES (ROUND FOUR) |
Baseline (2019-2023) | Target (2021-2025) | Baseline (2019-2023) | Target (2021-2025) |
| No. of Fatalities | 1,275.2 | 1,253.9 | 730.8 | 726.0 |
| No. of Serious Injuries | 5,866.2 | 5,924.8 | 3,329.4 | 2967.0 |
| Fatality Rate | 1.576 | 1.554 | 1.804 | 1.77 |
| Serious Injury Rate | 7.252 | 7.349 | 8.225 | 7.24 |
| No. of Non-Motorized Fatalities and Serious Injuries | 626.6 | 656.1 | 299.8 | 292.0 |
By agreeing to support the states’ (Mississippi and Tennessee) HSIP targets, the Memphis MPO agrees to:
- Work with the states and safety stakeholders to address areas of concern for fatalities or serious injuries within the metropolitan planning area
- Coordinate with the states and include the safety performance measures and the states’ HSIP targets for those measures in the long-range regional transportation plan (RTP)
- Integrate into the metropolitan transportation planning process, the safety goals, objectives, performance measures and targets described in other state safety transportation plans and processes such as applicable portions of the HSIP, including the SHSP
- Include a description in the TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) of the anticipated effect of the TIP toward achieving HSIP targets in the RTP, linking investment priorities in the TIP to those safety targets
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why do transportation plans include projected injuries and fatalities?
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We’ve seen questions about this, and we understand why it can sound concerning at first glance. Here’s a clear explanation of what these numbers mean—and what they don’t.
Are these “targets” for injuries or fatalities?
No. Absolutely not. These are projections, not goals. Think of it like a weather forecast—we don’t want storms, but we prepare for them.
Why are these projections included?
Because they are required by federal law. Transportation planning organizations must estimate future conditions to identify risks, measure progress, and qualify for funding.
What is the real goal?
Reduce injuries and save lives. These projections help guide safer decisions and investments.
Why might projections show an increase?
They may reflect population growth, more traffic, or existing infrastructure challenges. They do not mean anyone wants harm to occur.
What is being done to improve safety?
- Safer intersections
- Sidewalks and bike infrastructure
- Focus on high-risk areas
- Data-driven safety planning
Why not just set a goal of zero?
While all communities support zero fatalities, federal rules still require realistic projections to measure progress and secure funding.
Bottom line?
These numbers are about preventing harm—not accepting it. They help us understand risks so we can take action and save lives.
Additional Resources
TDOT Safety Performance Measures Presentation (2017)
MDOT Safety Performance Measures Presentation (2017)
Memphis MPO Performance Measures Presentation (Online Workshop 2018)
