FHWA Programs to Reduce Crashes in Rural Areas

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FHWA Safety Core Business UnitOffice-Level
Structure
Develops and manages programs for the safe
operation of roadways, bicycle and pedestrian
facilities, and at intermodal connections
including use of Federal funds for safety
purposes.
Directs a program of assistance to States and
other customers in the development and use of
road and roadside features that impact highway
safety performance.
Leads FHWA safety strategic and performance
planning efforts, ensures integration of safety
with other FHWA DOT initiatives, and manages a
program to leverage safety technology and
innovation.
Advances safety through innovation, leadership,
and public service through the coordination of
engineering, behavior, education, enforcement,
and emergency medical services initiatives.
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Highway Safety in the U.S.

• U.S. Highway System Among Worlds Safest
• Fatality Rate Decreasing (as Traffic Increasing)
• But over 41,000 Deaths 3,200,000 Injuries per
  Year and rates of 1.52
• US DOT Safety Goals (FHWA, NHTSA, FMCSA)
• 20 Reduction in Highway deaths injuries by
  2008
• 50 Reduction in Large-Vehicle-Related deaths
  injuries
• FHWA Safety Program
• Analyzes where fatalities injuries occur
• Looks for major contributing factors
• Provides funding and program assistance for
  safety needs

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Estimated Lives Saved in 2000(Using 1966
Fatality Rate 2000 Traffic Volumes) Avoided
109,405 Additional Deaths (70 less)
Projected Fatalities (using 1966 Rate)

Actual Fatalities
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Where Fatalities OccurBy Roadway Functional
Class - 2000 data
Number of Fatalities
Fatality Rates (per 100 Million VMT)
Interstate Other Freeway
Local Roads
7,358
7,718
8,698
18,047
Collectors
Arterials
Arterials
Locals
Interstate Other Fwy
Collectors
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Where Fatalities Occur2000 data
RURAL Fatalities by Roadway Functional Class
RURAL URBAN PERCENT Fatalities

• INTERSTATE RURAL 13

• LOCAL 19

l
18,047

• ARTERIALS
• 38

• COLLECTORS
• 30

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What We Know About Crashes

• 80 occur during normal weather conditions on dry
  roads
• 70 occur during daylight hours
• Fatalities 61 Rural
• 39 Urban

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Intersections

• 21 of all Fatalities
• 44 of all Crashes
• - 58 Urban
• - 42 Rural
• Unsignalized Intersections
• - 55 of Urban Crashes
• - 90 of Rural Crashes

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2 Lane Roads

• 77 if all Fatalities (32,038)
• 2/3 in Rural Areas
• 2/3 during daylight hours
• 1/4 intersection related
• 1/6 Head-ons
• 6/10 are single vehicle crashes

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FHWA Focus AreasMajor Contributing Factors to
Fatalities

• Single Vehicle Run-Off-Road - 38
• Speeding Related - 30
• Intersections - 21
• Pedestrian and Bicyclist - 13
• (Source 2000 FARS data)

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Run-Off-Road Crashes
Crashworthy Devices
Removing Roadside Hazards
Improved Visibility
Rumble Strips
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Run Off Road

• Safety Hardware
• NCHRP 350
• National Crash Analysis Center activities
• Shoulder Rumble Strips
• Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM)
  Add Modules Training
• Retroreflectivity / UV Demonstration
• Older Driver Workshops

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Intersection SpeedingPedestrian Bicyclist
Crashes
Safety Features for Pedestrians and Bicyclists
Variable Speed Limits
Intersection Design Enforcement
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Intersections

• Stop Red Light Running (RLR) Campaign
• Automated Enforcement for RLR
• Surrogate Safety Measures for Intersections
• Use of Innovative Technologies (esp. coord. with
  ITS / IVI efforts)
• Roundabout Guide / Workshops / Analysis Tools
• National Agenda-Setting Workshop
• Lead by AASHTO / FHWA w/ ITE, other partners
• November 2001

14
Speed - Related

• Speed Setting Demonstrations
• Workshops
• Speed Exhibit
• Variable Speed Limit Operational Test
• Perceptual Measures for Controlling Speed (Based
  on Human Factors)

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Pedestrians Bicyclists

• Pedestrian Safety Countermeasure Selection System
• University Pedestrian and Bicyclist Course
• Pedestrian and Bicyclist Resource Set (on CD)
• Pedestrian Safer Journey CD
• Pedestrian Safety Engineering Outreach and
  Awareness Campaign
• Pedestrian Safety Engineering and ITS-based
  Countermeasures

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Program-Wide Initiatives

• Expanding Partnerships Internal External
• Advance AASHTO Strategic Safety Plan
• Integration of Safety w/ Planning Process
• Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
  Coordinated Best Practices Review w/ FHWA Field
  States Quality of Safety Data a Key Issue
• 2001 National Highway Safety Awards
• Emphasizing Role of Technology Innovation

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AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety Plan

• Leadership by AASHTO with the assistance of
• Federal Highway Administration
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• TRB Committee on Transportation Safety Management
• ITE
• National safety experts in driver, vehicle, and
  highway issues

.
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Key Issues

• Fatality and Injury Numbers on a Plateau What
  new opportunities are out there to restore
  progress?
• Data Quality, Timeliness Value to
  Countermeasure Development Safety Conscious
  Planning
• Needs of Localities Significant Part of Problem
  Is on Local Roads
• Growing Older Driver Population Safety impacts,
  particularly at complex intersections and
  interchanges
• Intersection Safety Growing concern as
  high-crash location aggressive driving, traffic
  control enforcement issues

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Highway Safety Public Awareness
Moving Safely Across America - interactive
highway safety experience CD-ROM and Kiosk Read
Your Road - Every Highway Users Guide to Driving
Safely Stop Red Light Running video Night
Lights video - explains how retroreflectivity
saves lives Safer Journey Interactive
Pedestrian Safety Awareness the Gold Camera
award winning CD-ROM Walkable Community
brochure Everyone is a Pedestrian brochure
set Red Light-Green Light video on intersection
safety National Work Zone Awareness Week
educates the public about safe driving in work
zones Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day - a new
highway safety outreach campaign observed October
10th each year.