This event is free for ACRS members and $35 for non-members. Learn more about ACRS Membership here.

Equity is often described as the neglected "E" in road safety. While safety, efficiency and mobility frequently dominate transport discussions, ensuring fair and just outcomes for all road users remains a challenge across many jurisdictions.

Join us for an insightful ACRS Book Club discussion examining how Washington State has placed equity at the centre of its road safety strategy through Target Zero, the Washington State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP).

Equity was a key theme at the 2025 Australasian Road Safety Conference, and this session provides an opportunity to explore one of the most comprehensive and practical examples of equity being embedded into road safety policy and practice.

Three aspects of the Washington State approach stand out:

1. A strong and explicit commitment to equity in traffic safety

2. The application of systems thinking to understand and address complex safety challenges.

3. Recognition of land use as a strategic influence on transport demand, travel patterns and road safety outcomes.

As WSDOT states:
"Systems thinking requires us to proactively address patterns and trends across multiple systems to bring about equity-based outcomes."

While equity is frequently discussed in transport and road safety, it is often poorly defined and inconsistently applied. In contrast, WSDOT's approach is grounded in meaningful community engagement, robust data analysis and evidence-based policy development. Their strategy clearly identifies who experiences disadvantage, how those disadvantages arise, and the actions required to achieve fairer safety outcomes for all road users.

The session will explore how WSDOT has incorporated equity throughout its Strategic Highway Safety Plan and implementation framework, supported by detailed analysis including its Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment. Importantly, this work extends beyond traditional definitions of vulnerable road users to consider broader social and systemic factors that influence road trauma risk and outcomes.

PRESENTERS

John Milton - State Safety Engineer, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
John is responsible for statewide transport safety policy and program oversight and played a leading role in the development of the WSDOT Strategic Highway Safety Plan. He will provide an overview of the Target Zero strategy and discuss how equity has been embedded throughout its development and implementation.

Brian Chandler - National Director for Transportation Safety, DKS Associates
Brian brings extensive experience in road safety engineering and made a significant contribution to the development of the WSDOT SHSP. He will discuss how equity is being considered and advanced in road safety practice across the United States.

Whether you work in policy, planning, engineering, research, public health or advocacy, this discussion offers valuable insights into how systems thinking and equitable engagement can help create safer and fairer transport outcomes for everyone.

Participants are encouraged to explore the full Target Zero Strategic Highway Safety Plan and Implementation Plan prior to the session via the WSDOT Target Zero website: https://targetzero.com

Contact the host of WA Chapter Book Club: Equity in the Washington State Strategic Highway Safety Plan

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