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 seven main priority areas: Impaired Driving, Seatbelt Usage, Speeding (Aggressive Driving), Distracted Driving, Motorcycle Safety, Teen Drivers, and the Designated Safety Corridors. 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 2009 Alaska had 64 traffic-related fatalities in 59 fatal crashes. Preliminary reports show that in 2010 there were 56 fatalities in 52 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.