Which is typically the first step in a data-driven safety management process?

• A. Network screening
• B. Data collection
• C. Hazard analysis
• D. Performance tracking

Answer: (A)

In a data-driven safety management process, you begin by screening the network to identify areas with elevated risk using available data. This quick pass uses crash data, exposure information, and road characteristics to flag hotspots or corridors that warrant closer inspection. By highlighting where problems are most concentrated, you can allocate resources efficiently for more detailed data collection and analysis where it matters most. After this initial screening, you gather more specific data at the flagged sites to understand contributing factors, perform hazard analyses, implement targeted interventions, and then track performance to see improvements. Starting with the screening provides a data-informed map of priorities, guiding the subsequent steps rather than trying to study every location in equal depth.