8th Annual Michigan Traffic Safety Summit Guidance for Implementation of AASHTO’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan Timothy R. Neuman, PE Vice President and.

8th Annual Michigan Traffic Safety Summit

Guidance for Implementation of AASHTO’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan

Timothy R. Neuman, PEVice President and Chief Highway EngineerCH2M HILL

Presentation Summary

Overview of AAHTO’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan

Implementation Guides– Intersections

– Older Drivers

A ‘charge’ to our professions

A strategic plan for highway safety that will positively impact the nation’s present and predicted statistics on vehicular related death and injury. Comprehensive in nature and reflects input from many participating safety organizations.

SHSP Participating Safety Organizations

USDOT AAA ARTBAAASHTO AAMVA RSFNAGHSR AARPATSSANTSB NSC GMCMADD ATAIIHS TRB

SHSP Plan Goal is to Reduce Highway Fatalities

30,000

32,000

34,000

36,000

38,000

40,000

42,000

1998 2004 2007

Fatalities

6 main elements are addressed within the Strategic Highway Safety Plan

1. Drivers2. Special (Other) Users3. Vehicles4. Highways5. Emergency Medical Services6. Management

The Strategic Highway Safety Plan Focuses on 22 Emphasis Areas

Emphasis Areas are specific safety issue areas related to the 6 Elements

There are 92 suggested strategies supporting the 22 Emphasis Areas

Presentation Focus

Emphasis area 17. Improving the design and operation of highway intersections (‘Highway Element’)

Emphasis area 3. Sustaining proficiency in older drivers

NCHRP Project 17-18 (03)—of AASHTO’s SHSP

CH2M HILL Prime Contractor– Maron Engineering (Ron Pfefer co-PI)

– Midwest Research Institute

– University of North Carolina HSRC

– Bellomo-McGee, Inc

– Northwestern University Center for Public Safety

– Dr. Pat Waller

NCHRP 17-18 (3) Emphasis Areas

Phase I (completed)–Aggressive Driving

–Suspended/Revoked Drivers

–Run Off Road

–Head On

–Trees in Hazardous Locations

–Unsignalized Intersections

Phase II (ongoing)–Truck-related

–Pedestrian

–Utility Poles

–Curves

–Signalized Intersections

–Older Drivers

–Unbelted Drivers and Occupants

NCHRP Project 17-18(3)—Guidance for Reducing Fatal Crashes

Produce “guidebooks” and web-based materials to facilitate agency implementation of SHSP objectives (3 phases; 17 guides)

Guides present low-cost, readily implementable strategies– Proven effective

– Experimental/innovative

– Comprehensive

Audience is state DOTs and other agencies (county, municipal)

Content of Guides and Web Materials

Background on extent and nature of the problemStrategies to address the problem

– Proven

– Tried

– Experimental

Model implementation processProfiles of successful implementation

Guidebook Development Process

Strategy and “best practices” identification (literature review, surveys, phone interviews)

Workshops and Tree Symposium involving agency leaders

Selection of Demonstration AgenciesDemonstration of Guides Final Revisions and Publication

Working Materials Developed by Project Team Under 17-18 (3)

Printed Guides for developing programs to address fatal crashes

Website for collecting and disseminating information on program development and effectiveness, and in-depth technical background; maintain currency of knowledge base

Strategy Discussion Outline

– Target Crashes

– Expected Effectiveness

– Keys to Success

– Potential Difficulties

– Appropriate Measures and Data

– Associated Needs for, or relation to, Support Services (e.g., Public Information and Education, Traffic Law Enforcement, and Emergency Medical Services)

– Organizational, Institutional and Policy Issues

– Interagency Participation

– Issues Affecting Implementation Time

– Costs Involved

– Training and Other Personnel Needs

– Legislative Needs

Intersections are clearly a high priority (over 20% of fatal crashes occur at intersections)

Signalized Intersection Strategies

Signalized Intersection Strategies

Strategies for Sustaining Proficiency in Older Drivers

EXHIBIT 1-4

Objectives and Strategies for Sustaining Proficiency in OlderDrivers

Objectives Strategies

3.2.1 Improve theroadway/driving environment tobetter accommodate the specialneeds of older drivers

3.2.1.1 Provide advance warningsigns

3.2.1.2 Provide advance guidesigns and street name signs

3.2.1.3 Increase size and letterheight of roadway signs

3.2.1.4 Provide longer clearanceintervals at signalizedintersections

3.2.1.5 Provide more protectedleft signal phases at busyintersections

3.2.1.6 Provide offset left-turnlanes at intersections

3.2.1.7 Improve lighting atintersections, horizontal curves,and railroad grade crossings

3.2.1.8 Improve roadwaydelineation

3.2.1.9 Replace paintedchannelization with raisedchannelization

3.2.1.10 Reduce intersectionskew angle

3.2.1.11 WORK ZONES

3.2.2 Plan for an agingpopulation

3.2.2.1 Develop a comprehensivestatewide plan to address thetransportation needs of older

Strategies for Sustaining Proficiency in Older Drivers

Agencies are encouraged to adopt stretch goals for achieving the vision

“Were states, counties, local communities and the federal government fully commit to the vision of the SHSP, it would be possible to reduce the toll of highway fatalities and injuries by as much as 15,000 fatalities, and upwards of 1 million injuries annually. This represents a staggering 30 to 40 percent reduction in the safety risk of highway travel in the U.S.”

Final Report, NCHRP Project 8-36 (Task 26)

Effective implementation will involve multiple stakeholders

State and County DOTsState and local law enforcementState licensingEmergency medical servicesEducation professionalsPrivate sector

Organizational Factors Affecting Implementation

Completely SuccessfulImplementation

Partial or IncompleteImplementation

Driving Forces Restraining Forces

Restraining Forces (Barriers to SHSP Implementation)

Costs to reach AASHTO goals estimated as $6.4 to $9.2 billion capital, and $370 to $500 million annual costs

Competing prioritiesLack of a true ‘safety culture’ throughout organizationsDownsizing and retirements of skilled DOT staffInformation and knowledge gap

– Type (safety data, technology transfer of knowledge)

– State, county, local

Improving safety will require trade-offs

Safer signal operations versus ‘efficiency’

Prioritizing enforcement based on safety concerns

Driving forces that will help us achieve the AASHTO Goals

Leadership at the upper management levelGrowing public concerns about highway safetyDemands of Context Sensitive Solutions

movement

Accessing the Guides

Unsignalized Intersection Guide is published as NCHRP Report 500-x

Other Guides are in the Demonstration PhaseWebsite address: http://transportation1.org/safetyplan/

Questions:– Timothy Neuman: [email protected]

– Kevin Slack: [email protected]

Questions and Discussion

CONTACT

Timothy R. NeumanChief Highway EngineerCH2M Hill

8501 W. Higgins Road, Suite 300Chicago, Illinois 60631(773) 693-3800 ext. 233email: [email protected]

This presentation was made to the 8th Annual Michigan Traffic Safety Summit in Grand Rapids, MI in April 2003. It is provided for reference only.

Use of all or any part of this presentation for commercial purposes is prohibited without the

written permission of CH2M HILL.

Copyright 2003 , CH2M HILL