The proposed exploratory research aims to investigate a novel probability-based analysis method for understanding and assessing the performance of roadway safety hardware (RSH) and roadway facilities under vehicle crashes. The failures of RSH systems such as median barriers, guardrails, bridge rails, terminals, and crash cushions subjected to vehicle crashes will be investigated, and the focus of this study is on concrete barriers. This proposed study will lead to the development of a much needed analytical model on the vulnerability (i.e., vehicle impact magnitudes vs. failure probability) of RSH using a performance-based method and computational techniques. If successful, the proposed research will provide owners, researchers and engineers a new probability-based methodology for assessing the performance and failures of RSH systems, to replace a traditional pass/fail method widely used in the U.S. and around the world. The results of the proposed research will lead to optimum engineering solutions and decision-making for the cost-effective installation and retrofit of various RSH systems.