The Greater Metropolitan Houston

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The Greater Metropolitan Houston Traffic Safety
Program
2004 AMPO Annual Conference
Ned Levine, PhD Houston-Galveston Area
Council Houston, TX
October 14, 2004
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Serious Crash

• Fatal crash
• Injury crash
• Serious property damage crash

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Seriousness of Problem

• 1999-2001 Houston region
• 84,080 serious crashes a year
• 627 fatalities a year
• 93,971 persons injured a year
• The region accounted for
• 26 of all statewide crashes
• 27 of all statewide injury crashes
• 17 of all statewide fatal crashes
• The region has 22 of the statewide population
• and, approximately, 21 of the statewide VMT
• Likelihood of a fatal or injury crash was
• 36 higher than statewide average
• 149 higher than national average

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Worsening Trend in Safety
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Costs of Motor Vehicle Crashes
Human Suffering Burden on Public
Services Medical Costs Economic
Costs Congestion Costs High Insurance Costs
Using National Safety Council Methodology Motor
Vehicle Crashes Cost for Region 4.4
Billion/Year for 1999-2001
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Annual Cost to Eight County Region
Direct Economic Costs 1.4 billion in direct
medical, property damage, legal costs, employer
costs, and lost productivity Comprehensive
Costs 4.4 billion in direct and cumulative
lifetime costs Public Sector Costs Unknown costs
for police, EMS, and public works
costs Congestion Costs Considerable costs in
travel delay TTI estimates 60 of congestion due
to incidents, inc. crashes
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Purpose of the Program
Monitor Safety Obtain data annually Map the
crashes Identify Problems and Solutions Identify
hazardous locations and area Conduct the
necessary preliminary engineering
Implement roadway improvements Identify funding
sources Leverage local investment with State and
Federal funds
Support other safety efforts Enforcement Educati
on Safety partnerships
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Combines Analytical Methodology With Policy Tools
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High-risk Behaviors 1999-2001

• Region U.S.
• Speeding 39 13
• Failing to yield 20 19
• Failing to stop 11 9
• Running a red light 8 5
• DUI 7 7
• (However, involved in 37 of fatal crashes/39
  nationally)
• Following too close 3 3
• Improper turn 2 2
• National Safety Council. U.S. average for
  1999. Fatal and injury crashes only

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High-risk Populations

• Region U.S.
• Teenagers 21 16
• (9 of driving age population/
• 5 nationally)
• (17 in fatal crashes /14 nationally)
• (19 in incapacitating injury crashes)
• Elderly (65) 8 8
• (9 of driving age population/
• 13 nationally)
• (11 in fatal crashes/13 nationally
• 9 in incapacitating injury crashes)
• Male drivers 79 60
• (Compared to 58 for females
• 1.7 times more likely to be in fatal crash/
• 1.4 nationally)

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H-GAC Safety Activities
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Safety Policy Directions the 4 Es

• Education
• Public awareness reports/outreach/conferences
• Technical staff/elected official/judges
• Enforcement
• Patrol officers
• Technology
• Engineering
• Fixing minor hot spots Maintenance
• Fixing major hot spots - Construction
• Emergency Response
• Assessment
• Intervention
• Coordination

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Safety Analysis

• Jurisdictional comparisons
• Brazoria County / Fort Bend County / Galveston
  County
• Harris County / Montgomery County / Houston
• Alvin / Conroe / Old River-Winfree
• Corridor analysis
• US 59 W / SH 35 / SH 288
• SH 105 / SH 99 / FM 359
• FM 518 / FM 830 / FM 1960
• FM 2232 / FM 2432 / John F. Kennedy Blvd
• Kirby Drive / Nichols Sawmill Road / Spring
  Steubner
• SH 99/Proposed Metro North Line
• Small area analysis
• Texas Medical Center
• Houston City Council District D

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City Comparisons
Serious Crash Risk (Serious Crashes per 100
Million VMT)
Serious City Crash risk Pearland
378 Galveston 337 Baytown
334 Rosenberg 320 Pasadena 290 Conroe
247 Houston 231 Texas City
211 Sugar Land 192 Region 204 State of
Texas 149
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Hot Spot Analysis
344 Major Hot Spots Numerous Minor Hot Spots
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Safety Projects Access Management
Houston East End City of Pasadena City of
Galveston City of Sugar Land FM 518 FM 1960
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Other Safety Activities

• Safety Meetings
• Developing Plans for Safety Courses
• Concept - Regional Safety Council

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Safety Web Page
http//www.h-gac.com/safety