Our Mission

"To enhance the health and well being of Alaska's people through programs aimed at saving lives and preventing injuries on Alaska's highways."

Tanana Bridge, Tok Photo by Jim Fehrenbacher, Alaska DOT&PF

Miles and miles of the Dalton Highway. Photo by Rebekah Cadigan, Alaska DOT&PF

Russian River Photo by Lavonne Rhyneer, Alaska DOT&PF

The Alaska Highway Safety Office (AHSO) coordinates highway safety programming focused on public outreach and education, enforcement, promotion of new safety technology, integration of public health strategies, collaboration with safety and private sector organizations and cooperation with state and local governments. AHSO administers federal funding to appropriate projects through a grant awarding process.

The AHSO has six main priority areas:

1. Impaired Driving Countermeasures,
2. Occupant Protection,
3. Speeding and Aggressive Driving,
4. Motorcycle Safety,
5. Traffic Records Data System Improvement, and
6. Other areas including:

• Teen Drivers,
• Older Drivers,
• Distracted Driving, and
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety.

The AHSO staff works with our partners in communities to develop strong projects with the message of Highway Safety for all Alaskans. We are also responsible for providing technical assistance to grantees and ensuring compliance with federal program regulations and guidelines.

The AHSO is also responsible for counting and analyzing the State's motor vehicle crash fatalities through the Federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) program. In 2010 Alaska had 56 traffic-related fatalities in 52 fatal crashes. Preliminary reports show that in 2011 there were 72 fatalities in 63 fatal crashes.

Alaska’s Seat Belt use has increased from 65.8% in 2002 to 89.3% in 2011.
More drivers in Alaska are buckling up now than any year previous.