Which Agency Governs Traffic Safety in Each State?

Brian WestrickJuly 6, 2025July 6, 2025Resource Guide

Which Agency Governs Traffic Safety in Each State?

Traffic safety is a critical concern across the United States, with thousands of lives lost annually due to motor vehicle crashes. While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Transportation, sets national standards and provides guidance, the responsibility for enforcing traffic safety regulations and managing state-specific programs falls to individual state agencies. These agencies work in partnership with NHTSA to implement safety initiatives, enforce laws, and reduce fatalities on state roads. This article explores which agency governs traffic safety in each of the 50 states, providing a comprehensive resource for understanding local oversight.

The Role of State Traffic Safety Agencies

Each state has its own agency or department tasked with overseeing traffic safety, often within a broader transportation or public safety framework. These agencies are responsible for enforcing traffic laws, conducting driver education, managing highway safety programs, and collaborating with federal efforts like NHTSA’s grant programs. While NHTSA provides federal oversight and funding, state agencies tailor safety measures to address local conditions, such as rural roads in Montana or urban congestion in New York. The variation in agency names and structures reflects each state’s unique approach to governance, but all share the common goal of reducing crashes and improving road safety.

State-by-State Traffic Safety Agencies

Below is a table listing the agency responsible for traffic safety in each of the 50 states, along with a link to the official website where available. These agencies may handle additional duties like transportation infrastructure or law enforcement, but their traffic safety roles are the focus here. Note that agency names and responsibilities can evolve, so it’s wise to verify current details through the provided links.

State	Agency	Website
Alabama	Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) – Office of Safety	alDOT Safety
Alaska	Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities	Alaska DOT&PF
Arizona	Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) – Safety Division	ADOT Safety
Arkansas	Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) – Safety Programs	ARDOT Safety
California	California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS)	CA OTS
Colorado	Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) – Safety & Traffic Operations	CDOT Safety
Connecticut	Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) – Bureau of Highway Safety	CTDOT Safety
Delaware	Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS)	DE OHS
Florida	Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) – Safety Office	FDOT Safety
Georgia	Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) – Office of Highway Safety	GA DPS
Hawaii	Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) – Highways Division	HDOT Safety
Idaho	Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) – Safety Programs	ITD Safety
Illinois	Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) – Office of Safety Programs	IDOT Safety
Indiana	Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) – Traffic Safety Division	INDOT Safety
Iowa	Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) – Office of Traffic and Safety	Iowa DOT Safety
Kansas	Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) – Bureau of Traffic Safety	KDOT Safety
Kentucky	Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) – Office of Highway Safety	KYTC Safety
Louisiana	Louisiana Highway Safety Commission (LHSC)	LHSC
Maine	Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) – Safety Division	MaineDOT Safety
Maryland	Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) – Highway Safety Office	MDOT Safety
Massachusetts	Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) – Highway Division	MassDOT Safety
Michigan	Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP)	MI OHSP
Minnesota	Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) – Office of Traffic Safety	MN DPS
Mississippi	Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MDPS) – Office of Highway Safety	MDPS Safety
Missouri	Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) – Safety Division	MoDOT Safety
Montana	Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) – Safety Division	MDT Safety
Nebraska	Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) – Highway Safety Office	NDOT Safety
Nevada	Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS) – Office of Traffic Safety	NV DPS
New Hampshire	New Hampshire Department of Safety (NHDOS) – Division of State Police	NHDOS Safety
New Jersey	New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety (NJDHTS)	NJDHTS
New Mexico	New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) – Safety Bureau	NMDOT Safety
New York	New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) – Traffic Safety	NYSDOT Safety
North Carolina	North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) – Division of Highways	NCDOT Safety
North Dakota	North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) – Safety Division	NDDOT Safety
Ohio	Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) – Traffic Safety Office	ODPS Safety
Oklahoma	Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) – Highway Safety Office	OK DPS
Oregon	Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) – Traffic Safety Division	ODOT Safety
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) – Bureau of Highway Safety	PennDOT Safety
Rhode Island	Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) – Safety Programs	RIDOT Safety
South Carolina	South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) – Office of Highway Safety	SCDPS Safety
South Dakota	South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) – Safety Division	SDDOT Safety
Tennessee	Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security – Highway Safety Office	TN Safety
Texas	Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) – Traffic Safety Division	TxDOT Safety
Utah	Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) – Highway Safety Office	UT DPS
Vermont	Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) – Safety Division	VTrans Safety
Virginia	Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) – Safety Division	VDOT Safety
Washington	Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC)	WTSC
West Virginia	West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) – Safety Programs	WVDOT Safety
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) – Bureau of Transportation Safety	WisDOT Safety
Wyoming	Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) – Safety Division	WYDOT Safety

Understanding the Variations

The diversity in agency names—ranging from Departments of Transportation to Offices of Highway Safety—reflects differing state priorities. For example, California’s Office of Traffic Safety operates independently to focus solely on safety initiatives, while states like Texas integrate traffic safety within a broader transportation framework under TxDOT. Some states, such as Maryland, house safety offices within larger departments that also handle homeland security, indicating a holistic approach to public protection. Despite these differences, all agencies collaborate with NHTSA, which provides funding and technical support through programs like the Highway Safety Grant Program. This partnership ensures a unified national effort while allowing states to address local challenges, such as weather-related hazards in the Midwest or pedestrian safety in urban centers.

Conclusion

Traffic safety in the United States is a shared responsibility between federal and state levels, with each state agency playing a pivotal role in enforcing laws and promoting safety on its roads. The table above serves as a quick reference to connect with the appropriate agency in each state. For the latest updates or specific safety programs, visiting the linked websites is recommended, as agency roles and contacts may change over time. Together, these efforts aim to reduce the human and economic toll of traffic incidents across the nation.