AASHTO’s Highway Safety Manual and

Performance Measures / Targets

Dr. Anthony Kane

Director of Engineering and Technical Services

Wednesday October 26, 2011

Bom dia damas e cavalheiros

Talk Overview

• Highway Safety Manual

• Other Key Products

• Toward Zero Deaths

The HSM is a tool to change

how we consider safety

Nominal Safety Substantive

Safety Examined in

reference to

compliance with

standards, warrants,

guidelines and

sanctioned design

procedures

The expected or

actual crash

frequency and

severity for a

highway or

roadway

How to Meet The Challenge?

• Bring safety at same level as other parameters

• Integrate safety into transportation decision-making processes

– Quantify effect of decisions on future crash frequency and severity

– Increase our accountability, measure performance, and meet legislatively mandated priorities

• Fill the gap between state of art and state of practice

The HSM—History & Status • Years of Research thru NCHRP-TRB

• Published in 2010

• Over 3300 Copies Sold

in 60 countries

• Companion Software – Safety Analyst (Part B)

http://www.safetyanalyst.org;

– Interactive Highway Safety Design Model(IHSDM)(Part C) http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/ihsdm/ihsdm.htm

Part Chapter Description

A

1

2

3

Introduction & Overview

Human Factors

Fundamentals

B

4 /5

6 / 7

8 / 9

Road Safety Management Process:

Network Screening / Diagnosis

Countermeasure Selection / Economic Appraisal

Project Prioritization /Safety Effectiveness Evaluation

C

10

11

12

Predictive Methods for:

Rural Two-Lane, Two-Way Roads

Rural Multilane Highways

Urban & Suburban Arterials

D

13

14

15

16

17

Crash Modification Factors for:

Roadway Segments

Intersections

Interchanges

Special Facilities and Geometric Situations

Road Networks

Operations, Maintenance &

Construction

Evaluating Individual Projects Before-after studies

Design exceptions/ deviations

Evaluate Alternatives - Evaluate

alternatives in operations, maintenance, and construction

Evaluate design-build proposals - Using value-based

evaluation that includes safety

Countermeasure Selection & B/C - Site diagnosis, countermeasure

selection, economic analysis

Compare safety impact vs other

impacts (e.g. environmental)

Network Screening Based on policy focus (e.g. SHSP, systematic approaches, risk-based (proactive) approaches, and reactive approaches; some as a result of STIP, TIP, route development process and corridor planning

Countermeasure Selection, B/C Site diagnosis, countermeasure selection, economic analysis

Ranking - Based on organizational policy

HSM Part B, C, and D

HSM

Part C,

and D

Evaluate design alternatives

State DOT Project Development Process, Activities,

and Relationship with the HSM

Prioritization Incl. assessment of potential countermeasure

Evaluating System Performance Performance Measures for Safety

3R vs 4R - (i.e. less

restrictive design requirements vs Green Book new construction

criteria)

Compare Safety Impact vs Other Impacts (e.g. environmental)

Goal of HSM Implementation

• Move forward

– Integration of safety in the day to day activities

– Support State’s Performance Goals

• Institutionalize safety culture

– HSM becomes a tool routinely used by

transportation/road professionals

– Safety is another quantified parameter always

HSM Implementation Key

Components (Lead State Peer to Peer Workshop) • Implementation plan / road map / timelines

• Leadership and internal marketing

• Policy (e.g., incorporate HSM into processes)

• Personnel Resources and Funding

• Data

• Training

• Supporting Tools

Procedure for Updates to HSM

• Four year cycle for complete update

• Items can be added earlier

• Major priority items identified

• Develop a Strategic Plan

• Identify and Prioritize Research Needs

• Identify Potential Resources

HSM Coordinated National Initiatives

• AASHTO

– AASHTO Subcommittee on Safety Management: Task Group Technical

Safety Publication Oversight & Coordination (HSM)

– HSM /Safety Analyst/Website

– User Discussion Forum

• FHWA

– National Roadmap for Implementation/Training/IHSDM

– Crash Modification Factor (CMF) Clearinghouse

(www.cmfclearinghouse.org)

• Includes all available CMFs

• Star Quality Rating

• A Guide to Developing Quality CMFs

HSM Coordinated National

Initiatives (continued) • TRB

– Committee for Highway Safety Performance

• NCHRP

– Lead State Initiative

– CMF Protocols

– Research projects

• Individual States

– Collaboration and Peer Exchanges

AASHTO “Green Book”

• A Policy on Geometric Design of

Highways and Streets

• 2011 Edition to be released in

November 2011

• Available for first time as a web-

based publication with bonus

material and interactive features

Roadside Design Guide

• 4th Edition recently released

• Provides detailed information on treatments that can minimize the likelihood of serious injuries when a motorist leaves the roadway, including clear zones, barriers, crash cushions

• Also available for as a web-based publication with additional features

Lane Departure Crashes

• Addresses the problem systematically

• Nearly 4 out of every 10 fatal crashes involve a single vehicle leaving its lane and/or the roadway

• More than twice as many on rural roads than on urban roads

WHAT Is TZD? • The National Highway Safety Strategy

• Uses the 1997 AASHTO strategic plan as

a base. Target for release: May 2012

• Broadens the outreach

• More inclusive in ownership

• Longer time horizon – at least 25 years

• Safety culture strategies included

• Technology will play a key role

Highway Deaths: Where Are We?

How Will We Drastically Reduce

Fatalities?

• Safer drivers/passengers and pedestrians

and bicyclists

• Safer vehicles

• Safer roadways

• Better/more emergency medical services

Vehicle Countermeasures

• Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Vehicle-to-

Infrastructure communication

• Electronic stability control

• Other safety features:

– Lane departure warnings

– Adaptive headlights

– Forward collision warning

– Brake assist

Lessons Learned: Worldwide

Applications • Leadership and a shared vision at top levels

• Driving is a privilege rather than a right

• Partnerships among health, development, transportation, and public safety communities

• Shared accountability and responsibility

• Tough laws on vehicles and drivers must exist and be enforced

• We can learn from each other—developing as well as developed countries as developed nations

Muito Obrigado

Thank You

• Akane@aashto.org

• Khardy@aashto.org

• Jmcdonnell@aashto.org

• www.transportation.org

• www.highwaysafetymanual.org

• www.cmfclearinghouse.org

• www.strategicsafetyplan.com