Successes in Reducing Highway FatalitiesKathy Harvey, MoDOT

State Design EngineerJuly 16, 2008Albuquerque, N.M.

Fatal Crash LocationsAre Random

Fatal Crash TypesAre Not Random

Identifying TheEssential Eight

1. Primary Seat Belt Law2. Public Education3. Targeted Enforcement4. Punish Drunk Drivers

5. Median Cable Barrier6. Rumble Strips7. Signs & Stripes8. Shoulders

SystemImprovements

With a 32,000-mile system, where to start?

System-wide Solutions

Major & Minor Roads

Major Minor

Roadway Miles 5,500 26,500

Miles Traveled 80% 20%

Fatalities 45% 55%

• Build good projects everywhere, instead of perfect projects somewhere.

• By doing so, the entire system improves, not just a few locations.

The First Ground Rule…

Missouri Progress Guard cable

• 500 miles of cable installed on our interstates since ’04.

• Low and High Tension.

• Studied all reported cross-median crashes, 1999-2005 (1,400)

• 95% success rate

• Vehicles did not enter opposing lanes.

 

Safety Analysis: Guard Cable I-70 Cross-Median Fatalities

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1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007*

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Safety Analysis: Guard Cable I-44 Cross-Median Fatalities

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1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007*

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Safety Analysis: Guard Cable Interstate Cross-Median Fatalities

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2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

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Missouri Progress Smooth Roads Initiative

• Made 2,200 miles of our major roads safer.

• Smoother pavement, brighter striping, rumble stripes.

• 2005-2006.

• Early completion estimated to save 14 lives and prevent 589 injuries.

 

Smooth Roads Initiative

TREATMENTS

• New Roadway Surface

• Asphalt - Overlay

• Concrete - Diamond Grind

• 6” Edgelines: Rumble Stripe (Epoxy)

• 6” Lane Lines: 3M “Waffle Tape”

• Some wet-reflective

Smooth Roads Initiative

• Delineate everything

• Emergency Reference Markers

• Sign upgrades

TREATMENTS

Missouri Progress Better Roads, Brighter Future

Focusing on 5,573 miles that carry 80 percent of all traffic – work includes surface treatments, wider stripes and paved shoulders.

Will bring major roads up to 85 percent in good condition by end of 2011.

 

Better Roads, Brighter FutureTREATMENTS• All major roads (5,500 mi) will have

• Minimum 4-foot paved shoulder

• Smooth driving surface

• Improved signing

• 1,000+ miles will receive Edgeline and Centerline rumble stripes

Imbed Safety into Policy• Rumble Stripes (Edgeline &

Centerline)

• All major roads

• All minor roads with crash history

• 6-inch Stripes for Major Roads

• All Edgeline

• Multi-lane skips

• Curve Speed Plaques

• Every Curve/Turn sign

Missouri Progress

• Missouri led the nation in saving lives in 2006.

• Of the 868 fewer traffic deaths nationwide, Missouri accounted for 161 of them.

 

Safety Analysis: Saving Lives Missouri Fatalities

1098

1208

1232

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1257

1096

1000992

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2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

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Missouri Progress

• 21 percent decrease in fatalities from 2005 to 2007.

• 9 percent decrease in fatalities from 2006 to 2007.

• 1,257 fatalities in 2005.

• 1,096 fatalities in 2006.

• 992 fatalities in 2007.

• Haven’t had fewer than 1,000 fatalities since 1993 – 15 years

ago.

 

How We Know it’s Working…

The Future?

• The possibility of truck-only lanes on I-70.

• SEIS underway.

The Future?

• Shared Four-Lane.

• One under construction now.

For More Information:Kathy Harvey, State Design EngineerMissouri Department of Transportation573-751-2876Kathy.Harvey@modot.mo.govwww.modot.org