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Key Facts: HTSP Exam

Core Courses

TSI/NHTSA HTSP Program

80%

Passing Score

Per course final exam

Specializations

Optional focus areas

Free

Program Cost

For eligible participants

IACET

CEU Accreditation

TSI is an IACET provider

NHTSA

Sponsoring Agency

U.S. DOT

The HTSP certificate requires completing six core TSI courses covering highway safety foundations, program development, NHTSA grants management, data-driven planning, management review, and presentation skills. Each course has a final exam requiring 80% to pass. Available to NHTSA staff, SHSO personnel, grant subrecipients, and law enforcement. Six optional specializations include occupant protection and impaired driving.

Sample HTSP Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the HTSP exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which federal legislation established the National Highway Safety Bureau, the precursor to NHTSA?

A.SAFETEA-LU (2005)

B.Highway Safety Act of 1966

C.FAST Act (2015)

D.Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021)

Explanation: The Highway Safety Act of 1966 established the National Highway Safety Bureau, which later became the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This landmark legislation created the framework for federal involvement in highway safety programs and required states to develop highway safety programs meeting federal standards.

2What is the primary purpose of the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)?

A.To allocate federal highway construction funding to states

B.To provide a comprehensive framework for reducing highway fatalities and serious injuries

C.To regulate commercial motor vehicle operations

D.To establish speed limits on interstate highways

Explanation: The Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) is a statewide, data-driven plan that provides a comprehensive framework for reducing highway fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. It integrates the 4Es of highway safety (Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Medical Services) and coordinates efforts among multiple stakeholders.

3Section 402 of Title 23 U.S.C. provides funding for which type of highway safety program?

A.Highway construction and bridge repair only

B.State and Community Highway Safety Grant Programs

C.Federal motor carrier safety inspections

D.Vehicle manufacturing safety standards enforcement

Explanation: Section 402 of Title 23 U.S.C. authorizes the State and Community Highway Safety Grant Programs. These grants provide federal funding to states for highway safety programs addressing behavioral safety issues such as impaired driving, occupant protection, pedestrian safety, and traffic records improvement. Each state receives a formula-based allocation.

4What does FARS stand for in the context of highway safety data?

A.Federal Auto Registration System

B.Fatality Analysis Reporting System

C.Federal Accident Response Service

D.Freight and Road Safety system

Explanation: FARS stands for the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, a nationwide census of fatal motor vehicle crashes maintained by NHTSA. FARS has collected data on every fatal crash on U.S. public roads since 1975, providing detailed information on crash circumstances, vehicles, and persons involved.

5The Safe System Approach includes all of the following elements EXCEPT:

A.Safe road users

B.Safe vehicles

C.Safe profit margins

D.Post-crash care

Explanation: The Safe System Approach includes five elements: safe road users, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe roads, and post-crash care. It is based on the principle that humans make mistakes and the transportation system should be designed to accommodate human error. Safe profit margins is not one of the elements.

6Which NHTSA program uses high-visibility enforcement waves to increase seat belt use nationwide?

A.Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

B.Click It or Ticket

C.Safe Routes to School

D.Stop on Red

Explanation: Click It or Ticket is NHTSA's national seat belt enforcement campaign that uses high-visibility enforcement (HVE) waves, typically around Memorial Day weekend, to increase seat belt use. The program combines strict enforcement with media campaigns to change driver behavior and has been credited with significantly increasing national seat belt use rates.

7What is the BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) legal limit for drivers aged 21 and over in most U.S. states?

A.0.05%

B.0.10%

C.0.08%

D.0.02%

Explanation: The legal BAC limit for drivers aged 21 and over is 0.08% in most U.S. states. This standard was established through federal incentive legislation (Section 163 of Title 23 U.S.C.) that encouraged all states to adopt 0.08% BAC as the per se limit for driving while intoxicated. Utah is an exception with a 0.05% limit.

8Which of the following is a key component of data-driven highway safety planning?

A.Relying primarily on anecdotal evidence from law enforcement

B.Using crash data to identify problems, select countermeasures, and evaluate effectiveness

C.Implementing programs based solely on public opinion surveys

D.Focusing exclusively on engineering solutions without behavioral data

Explanation: Data-driven highway safety planning uses crash data to systematically identify safety problems, select evidence-based countermeasures, and evaluate program effectiveness. This approach ensures that limited resources are directed toward the most significant safety issues and that interventions are based on proven strategies rather than assumptions.

9What is the primary role of a State Highway Safety Office (SHSO)?

A.Constructing and maintaining state highways

B.Administering the state's federal highway safety grant programs and coordinating safety efforts

C.Issuing driver's licenses and vehicle registrations

D.Conducting vehicle safety inspections

Explanation: The State Highway Safety Office (SHSO) is the designated state agency responsible for administering federal highway safety grant programs (Section 402 and 405) and coordinating the state's behavioral highway safety efforts. The SHSO develops the state's Highway Safety Plan (HSP), manages grant-funded projects, and works with multiple stakeholders to reduce fatalities and injuries.

10Which of the following is NOT one of the traditional 4Es of highway safety?

A.Engineering

B.Enforcement

C.Economics

D.Emergency Medical Services

Explanation: The traditional 4Es of highway safety are Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Economics is not one of the 4Es. This framework recognizes that effective highway safety requires a multidisciplinary approach combining road design, traffic law enforcement, public awareness, and emergency response.

About the HTSP Exam

The Highway Traffic Safety Professional (HTSP) certificate is administered by the Transportation Safety Institute for NHTSA. The program includes six core courses: Foundations of Highway Safety, Milestones of Highway Safety Program Development, NHTSA Highway Safety Grants Management, Data-Driven Highway Safety Planning, Management Review, and Effective Speaking and Presenting. Six specializations are also available: Occupant Protection, Impaired Driving, Speed/Aggressive Driving, Pedestrian/Bicycle Program Management, Vulnerable Road Users, and Law Enforcement Liaison.

Exam sponsor: Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) / NHTSA. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

100 questions

Time Limit

Varies by course module

Passing Score

80% on each course final exam

Exam / Certification Fees

Included with TSI coursework

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: Not publicly reported. TSI does not publish pass rates Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Core

Foundations of Highway Safety

History of highway safety, Safe System Approach, Vision Zero, federal/state/local agency roles, key legislation (Highway Safety Act, SAFETEA-LU, FAST Act, BIL)

Core

Highway Safety Program Development

Strategic Highway Safety Plans (SHSP), program lifecycle, stakeholder engagement, coalition building, milestone tracking, performance-based planning

Core

NHTSA Highway Safety Grants Management

Section 402 State and Community grants, Section 405 National Priority Safety Programs, fiscal management, Uniform Guidelines, grant compliance

Core

Data-Driven Highway Safety Planning

FARS database, state crash data systems, problem identification, countermeasure selection, performance measures, evidence-based decision making

Core

Management Review

Regional program management, state program oversight, monitoring and evaluation, compliance reviews, performance assessment

Core

Effective Speaking and Presenting

Communication strategies, public speaking for safety professionals, stakeholder presentations, media engagement, persuasive messaging

Specialization

Occupant Protection

Seat belt enforcement (Click It or Ticket), child passenger safety, CPS technician programs, occupant protection assessments, restraint use surveys

Specialization

Impaired Driving

DUI/DWI countermeasures, SFST and DRE protocols, ignition interlock programs, sobriety checkpoints, drugged driving enforcement

Specialization

Speed and Aggressive Driving

Speed management strategies, automated speed enforcement, engineering countermeasures, road design for speed reduction

Specialization

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

Vulnerable road user programs, Complete Streets, Safe Routes to School, pedestrian action plans, bicycle infrastructure safety

Preparing for the HTSP Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 80% on each course final exam
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: Varies by course module
Exam / certification fees: Included with TSI coursework Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

Work through all 100 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
Track weak areas and revisit them
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

HTSP: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master the structure of NHTSA grant programs, especially Section 402 and Section 405 funding categories

2Understand the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) development process and how states use it

3Learn the FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) database and how crash data drives safety decisions

4Study the Safe System Approach and its five elements: safe road users, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe roads, and post-crash care

5Know the key federal highway safety legislation: Highway Safety Act of 1966, SAFETEA-LU, FAST Act, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

6Review Click It or Ticket and other high-visibility enforcement campaign models

7Understand impaired driving countermeasures including SFST, DRE, ignition interlock, and sobriety checkpoints

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HTSP certificate?

The Highway Traffic Safety Professional (HTSP) certificate is administered by the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) for NHTSA. It recognizes safety professionals who have completed required coursework and core competencies in highway traffic safety. The program covers grants management, crash data analysis, program development, and specialized safety areas.

Who is eligible for the HTSP certificate?

The HTSP program is available to NHTSA personnel and their partners, including State Highway Safety Office (SHSO) staff, grant subrecipients, and law enforcement personnel. It is designed for professionals directly involved in administering or implementing highway safety programs.

What are the six core HTSP courses?

The six core courses are: Foundations of Highway Safety, Milestones of Highway Safety Program Development, NHTSA Highway Safety Grants Management, Data-Driven Highway Safety Planning, Management Review (RPM only), and Effective Speaking and Presenting.

What specializations are available in the HTSP program?

Six specializations are offered: Occupant Protection, Impaired Driving, Speed/Aggressive Driving, Pedestrian/Bicycle Program Management, Vulnerable Road Users, and Law Enforcement Liaison. These allow professionals to deepen expertise in specific highway safety areas.

What is the passing score for HTSP course exams?

You must score 80% or higher on the final examination at the completion of each training course. This is consistent with ATSSA and TSI certification standards for highway safety professionals.

How long does it take to complete the HTSP certificate?

The timeline varies based on course availability and scheduling. Most professionals complete the six core courses over 6-12 months, as courses are offered at different times throughout the year by TSI. Specialization courses add additional time.