Saving Lives: A Vital FHWA Goal

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Saving Lives A Vital FHWA Goal

• Safety Priorities for 2003
• Michael Halladay
• FHWA Office of Safety
• Michigan Traffic Safety Summit April 29, 2003

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per 100M VMT by 2008
1.0 Fatalities
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Highway Safety in the U.S.

• U.S. Highway System Safety Status
• Fatality Rate Was Decreasing (as Traffic
  Increasing)
  
• But over 42,000 Deaths 3,000,000 Injuries per
  Year and, Est. 2002 Fatalities Are Highest
  Since 1991
  
• US DOT Safety Goal (FHWA, NHTSA, FMCSA)
• 1.0 Fatalities per 100 Million Vehicle Miles
  Traveled by 2008
  
• FHWA Safety Program
• Analyzes where fatalities injuries occur
• Looks for major contributing factors
• Provides funding and program assistance for
  safety needs

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Number of Persons Killed in Motor Vehicle
Crashes, by Year
Source FARS
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Persons Killed in Motor Vehicle Crashes per 100 M
VMT, by Year
Source FARS / FHWA VMT
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Where Fatalities OccurBy Roadway Functional
Class - 2001 data
Number of Fatalities
Fatality Rates (per 100 Million VMT)
Interstate Other Freeway
Local Roads
7,410
7,956
9,120
17,630
Collectors
Arterials
Arterials
Locals
Interstate Other Fwy
Collectors
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FHWA Focus Areas Major Factors Contributing to
Fatalities

• Single Vehicle Run-Off-Road - 38
• Speeding Related - 31
• Intersections - 21
• Pedestrian and Bicyclist - 13
• (Source 2001 FARS data)

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Highway Safety Critical Issues

• Fatality Reductions Have Ceased
• Driver Demographics Behavior

• Integrating Engineering, Enforcement, Education,
  EMS
  

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If existing trends continue, the equivalent of
every man, woman, and child living in these
States will be injured or killed in traffic
crashes by 2012.
States that represents injuries and fatalities.
By Tom Bryer formerly of PennDOT
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Cost of Motor Vehicle Crashes - 2000

• Total - 230.6 billion
• Highlights
• Non use of belts - 26 billion
• Impaired driving - 51 billion
• Speed-related crashes - 40 billion

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The Vital Few for SafetyObjectives Gaps

• Reduce fatalities involving roadway departure
  crashes (run-off-road head-ons) by 10 by 2007
  
• Reduce intersection fatalities by 10 by 2007
• Reduce pedestrian fatalities by 10 by 2007

• Save 2,292 Lives
• Save 860 Lives
• Save 465 Lives

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National Strategies

• Strategic Safety Programs
• Occupant Protection
• Prevent Roadway Departure
• Mitigate Consequences of Roadway Departure
• Intersection Design, Operation Enforcement
• Systematic Approach to Community Safety (for Safe
  Pedestrian Accommodation)

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Strategic, Integrated Approach to Safety
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Strategic Approach to Highway Safety

• Safety Conscious Planning
• State-Based Strategic Safety Plans
• Comprehensive 4E Approach
• Consider Needs of All Roadways
• Data Driven Decision Making
• Speed Management
• Consideration of Special Needs such as Older
  Road Users
  
• AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety Plan Can Serve as
  Model

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State Safety Information Systems

• Data Systems
• Complete
• Accessible
• Timely
• Accurate
• Compatible
• Integrated
• Information Analysis Capability
• Identify Problems
• Develop Effective Countermeasures
• Evaluate Safety Benefits Over Time Saving
  Lives

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Roadway Departure Fatalities

• Three roadway departure fatalities every hour
• One roadway departure injury every minute
• Three roadway departure crashes every minute

6,925
16,214
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Roadway Departure Programs

Rumble Strips
Improved Visibility
Safety Hardware
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Intersection Fatalities
Unknown

• One intersection related fatality every hour
• Two intersection related injury crashes every
  minute
  
• Five intersection related crashes every minute

469
Locals
1,542
Arterials
5,184
1,437
Collectors
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IntersectionPrograms

National Intersection Agenda
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Pedestrian Fatalities

Intersection

• One pedestrian killed every two hours
• Eight pedestrians injured every hour
• Thirteen pedestrians killed each day

Non-intersection
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Pedestrian Programs
Engineering and ITS-Based Countermeasures
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So How Does Michigan Compare?

• National Michigan
• Fatality Rate (per 100MilVMT) 1.51 1.34
• Safety Belt Use Rate - 71.5 82.3
• Rdway Departure (incl. Head-Ons) - 55 51
• Speeding Related - 31 23
• Intersections - 21 26
• Pedestrian - 12 12
• (Source 2001 FARS data)

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Safety Program Delivery within US DOT

• MECHANISMS
• National Leadership and Advocacy
• Technical Assistance
• Funding Support
• Research Technology
• Training
• Data Analysis/Policy Formulation
• Public Information and Education

• PARTNERSHIPS
• Within US DOT
• NHTSA
• FHWA Hq / RC / DOs
• FMCSA
• FRA
• External
• ATSSA
• States (AASHTO, DOTs, Governors Safety
  Representatives)
  
• LTAP Centers
• Local Tribal Governments
• Safety Advocacy Groups
• Private Firms
• Industry Professional Associations

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FHWA Is A Safety Agency

• Use Resources Wisely
• Work With Partners
• Emphasize 4 Es Approach
• Focus on Crash Types Related to High Fatalities
• Roadway Departure
• Intersections
• Pedestrians
• Encourage Strategic Approach
• Buckle Up!

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Last, but not Least..

• Stay Tuned for TEA-21 Reauthorization !