The Montana State Highway Commission was created in 1913 by the state Legislative Assembly. The original Commission was composed of three members. In 1917 new legislation altered the organization of the Commission by authorizing the appointment of twelve members according to geographic highway districts. Membership was changed again in 1921 to three members appointed by the Governor and in 1941 to five members, also appointed by the Governor. In 1971 the Commission was renamed the Montana Department of Highways, created by Chapter 7 of the Executive Reorganization Act of 1971 and implemented by executive order of the Governor on December 16, 1971. The Department of Highways took over all but the advisory functions of the State Highway Commission.

By 1972, the Department consisted of seven divisions: the Legal Division, Personnel Division, Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division. Each division was headed by an administrator. The Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division were furthered sub-divided into bureaus, headed by Chiefs. In 1991, the Department of Highways became the Department of Transportation.

Initially, what was then referred to as the Safety Unit was its own separate unit within the Montana Department of Transportation hierarchy. Historically, between 1974 and the present, it existed under the Engineering Division, the Personnel and Civil Rights Division, the Personnel Division, and the Transportation Planning Division, among others. At present the Traffic and Safety Bureau, under the umbrella of the Engineering Division, administers highway safety programs in Montana. The work that falls within this bureau’s purview includes MDT employee safety training, responding to citizens’ concerns about roadway hazards, seatbelt and speed law campaigns, and safety impact studies.