SESSION 356 Road Assessment Programs: New Approaches to Highway Safety Programs January 22, 2007
SESSION 356Road Assessment Programs:
New Approaches to Highway Safety Programs
January 22, 2007
Imagine a Day When…
• Road authorities can benchmark the relative risk of road segment in their jurisdiction
• Resources are allocated based on those risks
• Motorists can take these risks into account
• John Dawson – iRAP
• Peter Kissinger – AAA Foundation
• Doug Harwood – MRI
• Larry Tibbits - MDOT
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
• Established in 1947
• 501 (c) 3 Not-For-Profit
• Research Affiliate of AAA and AAA Motor Clubs
• North American Focus
Funded through the generosity of
and its members
Mission
• Identify traffic safety problems
• Foster research that seeks solutions
• Disseminate information and educational materials
usRAP Background• Unacceptably high socio-economic toll
from traffic crashes
• Culture of complacency
• Under-investment in safety
• Road safety management can be enhanced with more money & new tools
• Politics vs. evidence-based decisions
usRAP Background• Data limitations in many agencies
• Variation in analysis & evaluation tools
• Insufficient appreciation of relative contribution of vehicle, operator & road factors
• No system to assess road safety risks
• Little transparency
usRAP
• Inspired by EuroRAP
• Collaborate with EuroRAP and AusRAP through iRAP
usRAP Objectives• Help cut death and serious injury
rates through systematic risk assessment
• Ensure that strategic decisions are linked to risk assessment
• Forge partnerships among those responsible for a safe road system
usRAP Objectives (continued)
• Better information and guidance to motorists
• Improved crash data record systems
usRAP Pilot• Initiated in 2004
• Phase I pilot report (IA & MI) released 2006
• Phase II (FL & NJ) ongoing
• Phase III to be initiated in 2007– Continued expansion– RPS development– Risk communication
• Sponsor: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety FIA Foundation for the Automobile
& Society iRAP
• Research Team: Midwest Research Institute Iowa State University
usRAP Team
• AASHTO• AHU & RSF• ATSSA• Auto clubs• FHWA• ITE• NACE• Local highway agencies• State highway agencies
usRAP Advisory Panel
• Risk Mapping Maps of death and serious injury risk for road
users
• Road Protection Score Star rating based on inspecting road features
that protect users from serious injury or death
• Performance Tracking Comparisons of safety performance for
roadway sections over time
usRAP Protocols
Opportunities for Collaboration• AAAFTS partnerships with AASHTO,
State DOTs, and FHWA
• Periodic benchmarking Internal Public
• AAAFTS funding assistance to enhance road safety
• AAA support in state legislatures
For more information, please go to:
www.usrap.us