Transportation Safety and

Our Youth

2008 Transportation Safety Conference February 19-20, 2008

John G. Rohlf, P.E.Federal Highway Administration

Pierre, South Dakota

Crash Rate by Age of Driver(2006 – all SD crashes)

0

2

4

6

8

10

<16

16-1

7

18-2

0

21-2

4

25-3

4

35-4

4

45-5

4

55-6

465

+

Crashes per 100 registered drivers

Average (3.83)

Isn’t inexperiencechallenging enough?

Leading cause of death in young Americans ages 3 to 33 80 fatalities in 2006 under 35

(SD)

42,642 fatalities (2006 data)

• 191 (SD) $230 Billion Annually (2000 data):

• $500 Million (SD)

Fatalities

42500

43000

43500US

175190205

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

SD

Fatality Rate(Per 100 million Vehicle Miles of Travel)

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

SD

US

2006 Fatality Rate per 100 Million VMT

(US = 1.41)

0.87(-.11)

1.40(-0.05)

1.41(-0.21)

1.39(-0.04)

2.07(+0.19)

2.08(-0.14)

2.33(+0.07)

Unbelted Fatalities, Run-off-Road, Alcohol & Speed

(Percent)

0

25

50

75

100

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Speed

2006 Speed-Related Fatalities(US = 32%)

36%(+13%)

24%(+6%)

33%(0%)

25%(-8%)

43%(+4%)

Unbelted Fatalities, Run-off-Road, Alcohol & Speed

(Percent)

0

25

50

75

100

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Alcohol

Speed

2006 Alcohol-Related Fatalities(US = 41%)

37%(0%)

24%(-2%)

45%(-3%)

33%(-1%)

41%(+2%)

42%(-1%)

48%(-2%)

Unbelted Fatalities, Run-off-Road, Alcohol & Speed

(Percent)

0

25

50

75

100

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

ROR

Alcohol

Speed

2006 Roadway Departure Fatalities(US = 58%)

58%(-2%)

61%(-2%)

58%(+2%)

59%(0%)

74%(-5%)

74%(13%)

63%(-9%)

72% of SD fatalities were on rural roads (non-Interstate)

Unbelted Fatalities, Run-off-Road, Alcohol & Speed

(Percent)

0

25

50

75

100

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Unbelted

ROR

Alcohol

Speed

2006 Un-Belted Fatalities(US = 55%)

56%

44%

67%

64%

64%81%

69%

53% of SD fatalities were ejected

Roadway Safety Advisory Committee

Bring various segments of the safety community together

Develop the Annual Highway Safety Plan (for NHTSA)

Ground work for the Strategic Highway Safety Plan

http://www.state.sd.us/dps/hs/2008%20HSP%20Final.pdf

SAFETEA-LU

HSIP - new core program

• significant increase in safety funds

Strategic Highway Safety Plan

Two new programs:

• High Risk Rural Roads

Safe Routes to Schools

www.fhwa.dot.gov/safetealu

SAFETEA-LU Requirement

Input from various segments of the safety community (e.g., Roadway Safety Committee plus others)

Data-driven highway safety plan

http://www.sddot.com/docs/SouthDakotaStrategicHighwayPlan.pdf

You have an interest and a role in improving highway safety

Network, share ideas, forge new partnerships, join forces, and pool resources

Thank You!