Status Report

1
Minnesota Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan
Status Report Checkpoint No. 2
Presented to Commissioners Staff October 11,
2004
2
AASHTOs Key Emphasis Areas

• Part 1 Driver
• Part 2 Special Users
• Part 3 Vehicles
• Part 4 Highways
• Part 5 Emergency Medical Services
• Part 6 Management (Includes Data)

3
Background

• A key step in the process of developing
  Minnesotas Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan
  involved screening and prioritizing AASHTOs 22
  Emphasis Areas in order to focus on those that
  are most important in Minnesota.
• The Screening process is based on three
  components
• Results of the Self-Assessment,
• A data driven analysis of Minnesotas fatal crash
  statistics, and
• Prioritization exercise with the Safety Partners.

4
Minnesotas Critical Emphasis Areas

• Increasing Seat Belt Use Reducing Impaired
  Driving
• Improving the Design and Operation of Highway
  Intersections
• Lane Departure
• Reducing Head-On and Across Median Crashes
• Keeping Vehicles on the Roadway
• Minimizing the Consequence of Leaving the Roadway
• Young Drivers Curbing Aggressive Driving
• Increasing Driver Safety Awareness Improving
  Information and Decision Support Systems

5
Identification of Safety Strategies

• Initial list of safety strategies for each CEA
  generated using NCHRP Report 500 series
• Countermeasures and strategies for each of CEA
  were discussed, evaluated and prioritized at the
  June 10th CHSP Workshop.
• 16 Critical Strategies have been identified for
  implementation in Year One if possible.
• Created CHSP Safety Toolbox with over 100
  strategies to assist local agencies with
  identification of safety problems and deployment
  of appropriate strategies relative to CEAs.

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Safety Goal Example Strategies
655
665
Driver Safety Awareness
Based on trends from the 1993 to 2002 crash data
Communications task force to raise public
awareness
Ran-Off the Road
Install edgeline rumble strips
Install centerline rumble strips
Head-On Across Median
Aggressive Drivers
Targeted enforcement
500
Young Drivers
Stricter graduated licensing system
Signalized Intersections
Automated enforcement of red-light running
Provide intersection lighting and/or Assist
drivers in judging gap size
Unsignalized Intersections
Well publicized sobriety saturations
Critical Emphasis Areas
Alcohol Related
Unbelted
Enact primary seat belt law
All Others
2003
2008
7
Minnesotas Critical Strategies

• Enforcement
• Adequate resources to perform traffic enforcement
• Statewide primary seat belt law
• Automated enforcement (cameras) for red-light
  running and aggressive driving
• Stricter graduated licensing system
• Cooperation between courts law enforcement to
  prevent reduced/eliminated charges
• Sobriety saturations and targeted enforcement
• Engineering
• Low cost safety improvements for lane departure
  intersection crashes
• Assist local agencies in implementation of low
  cost improvements
• Maintenance of roadway facilities, roadside
  hardware and removing hazardous objects
• Road Safety Audits at network level

8
Minnesotas Critical Strategies

• Education
• Communications task force to raise public
  awareness
• Revise and enhance driver education
• Administrative
• Establish a Governors Traffic Safety panel
• Legislature Action Committee to lobby for
  GDL/improved curriculum/increased liability/
  court involvement
• Adequate staffing, equipment and other resources
  for information systems
• Emergency Medical Response and Care
• Implement a statewide Trauma System

9
Whats Next?

• Work with Districts to identify 15 most
  wantedsafety projects .
• Complete CHSP mid November.
• Use CHSP to help MINNESOTA move Toward Zero
  Deaths