Saving Lives: A Vital FHWA Goal

Safety Priorities for 2003

Michael HalladayFHWA Office of Safety

Michigan Traffic Safety Summit; April 29, 2003

per 100M VMT by 2008

1.0 Fatalities1.0 Fatalities

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 3

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

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 4

Number of Persons Killed in Motor Vehicle Crashes, by Year

44,599 42,850

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002Source: FARS

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 5

Persons Killed in Motor Vehicle Crashes per 100 M VMT, by Year

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Source: FARS / FHWA VMT

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 6

Where Fatalities OccurBy Roadway Functional Class - 2001 data

Interstate &Other Freeway

Local Roads

Collectors

7,956 7,410

17,630

9,120

Number of Fatalities

Arterials

Fatatity Rate per 100M VMT (1998)

0.9

1.6

2.2 2.1

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

Interstate/Freew ay Arterial Collector Local Road

Roadway Functional Class

Fat

ality

Rat

e

Fatality Rates (per 100 Million VMT)

Interstate &

Other Fwy

Locals

Collectors

Arterials

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 7

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)

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 8

Highway Safety – Critical Issues

Fatality Reductions Have Ceased

Driver Demographics & Behavior

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

19

85

19

87

19

89

19

91

19

93

19

95

19

97

19

99

20

01

20

03

20

05

20

07

Fatalities Target Goal

Integrating Engineering, Enforcement, Education, EMS

9FHWA Office of Safety4/29/03

“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

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 10

Total - $230.6 billion Highlights

Non use of belts - $26 billion

Impaired driving - $51 billion

Speed-related crashes - $40 billion

Cost of Motor Vehicle Crashes -

2000

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 11

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 LivesSave 465 Lives

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 12

National Strategies

Strategic Safety ProgramsOccupant ProtectionPrevent Roadway DepartureMitigate Consequences of Roadway DepartureIntersection Design, Operation & EnforcementSystematic Approach to Community Safety (for

Safe Pedestrian Accommodation)

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 13

Strategic, Integrated Approach to Safety

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 14

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

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 15

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”

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 16

16,2146,925

Roadway Departure Fatalities

Three roadway departure fatalities every hour

One roadway departure injury every minute

Three roadway departure crashes every minute

Run

Off

Road

16,214

Head

On

6,925

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 17

Safety Hardware

Rumble StripsImproved Visibility

Roadway Departure Programs

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 18

1,437

1,542

469

Arterials

Collectors

Locals

Unknown

5,184

Intersection Fatalities

One intersection related fatality every hour

Two intersection related injury crashes every minute

Five intersection related crashes every minute

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 19

Red Light Running

Roundabouts

National Intersection Agenda

IntersectionPrograms

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 20

Non-intersectionNon-intersection

IntersectionIntersection

Pedestrian Fatalities

One pedestrian killed every two hours

Eight pedestrians injured every hour

Thirteen pedestrians killed each day

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 21

Engineering and ITS-Based Countermeasures

Engineering and ITS-Based Countermeasures

                Safer Journey CD

Pedestrian Programs

Engineering Outreach Campaign

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 22

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)

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 23

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

4/29/03 FHWA Office of Safety 24

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!

Last, but not Least…..

“Stay Tuned” for TEA-21

Reauthorization !