Iowa Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan CHSP

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Iowa Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan (CHSP)
Jerry Roche, P.E. Safety Mobility
Engineer Federal Highway Administration Iowa
Division
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2005-2009Federal Transportation Act

• SAFETEA-LU
• Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient
  Transportation Equity Act A Legacy for Users
• Requires each state to have a Strategic Highway
  Safety Plan meeting certain criteria and should
  then report the process to FHWA. FHWA then issued
  guidelines that define who should be involved
  in the process and other suggested / required
  elements to consider.

SAFETEA-LU Requirements
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Highway Safety

• Why a Congressional Priority Now?
• Americans can do more to improve highway safety
• 43,000 deaths per year
• Every year this country experiences a national
  tragedy that is as preventable as it is
  devastating.
• The enormous cost to society is about 230
  billion, or 820 per person.
• - Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta April
  2006

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Global Safety ComparisonsFatality Rate (2002
Data) Deaths/1B kmVT

• United Kingdom 7.6
• Sweden 8.3
• Norway 8.3
• Switzerland 8.4
• Finland 8.5
• Australia 9.0
• Denmark 9.2
• Canada 9.3
• USA 9.4
• Germany 11.1

2nd
10th
(Source IRTAD 2004)
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Change the Safety Culture

• I would conclude that one of the failures in
  the United States is to get highway safety as a
  high priority for key decision makers.
• -Brian ONeill , President and CEO
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

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Why Success in Other Industrialized Nations
?Safety Culture
Safety Culture

• United Kingdom
• Typical speeding, safety belt or cell phone
  traffic violation fine 1,000 1,893
• Automated speed enforcement is commonly employed
• Sweden
• Vision Zero national goal is NO highway deaths
  
• The lowest legal level is .02 BAC
• Norway
• Increased traffic fines up to 30 percent in 2003
• Driving under the influence carries mandatory
  jail time.
• Denmark
• Fines are collected on-the-spot for the
  infringement of all traffic regulations.

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FinlandWhen it comes to crime, the wealthy
should suffer as much as the poor.
Safety Culture

• Traffic fines generally are based on two
  factors
• the severity of the offense
• the driver's income
• Jaako Rytsola, a 27-year-old Finnish Internet
  entrepreneur and newspaper columnist, was
  cruising in his BMW one recent evening. The
  officer pulled over Mr. Rytsola's car and issued
  him a speeding ticket for driving 43 miles an
  hour in a 25-mile-an-hour zone.
  The fine 71,400.

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Australia - Most like the U.S.Government, Road
Systems and Travel Patterns

• From nearly identical rates in 1980, the
  Australian rate has fallen to a point where it is
  now a little more than half the U.S. rate. (Based
  on public health measures of deaths/population)
• Implementing the Halving Fatalities goal
  introduced several traffic safety legislative and
  regulatory amendments to increase police powers,
  sharpen laws, and increase penalties.

HALVING Roadway Fatalities, A Case Study from
Victoria, Australia, 1989-2004
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Australias Safety Culture Based on Every
Drivers Responsibility

• Impairment
• .05 blood alcohol content (BAC) for all drivers
• Zero BAC first three years after licensing and
  for taxi drivers
• Immediate license loss for all drunk-driver
  second or subsequent offenses
• Enforcement
• Increased random breath testing Efforts
  increased five-fold resulting in (statistically)
  one in three drivers likely to be tested
  annually.
• Introduced automated speed limit enforcement with
  cameras
• Vulnerable Road users
• Mandatory bicycle helmet use law (motorcycle
  helmet law since 1960s)
• Education
• Long-term program of public education to support
  specific safety initiatives and keep traffic
  safety in the public arena

HALVING Roadway Fatalities, A Case Study from
Victoria, Australia, 1989-2004
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Australias Success Factors

• A Sound and Realistic Plan
• Political and Bureaucratic Leadership
• Integrated Implementation
• Other Enabling Factors
• Past success
• Strong relationships
• Sound data for evidence-based decisions
• Public education
• Supportive media
• Results
• A Safety Culture Change

The plan must not only be evidence-based, but it
must have sharp teeth.
HALVING Roadway Fatalities A Case Study from
Victoria, Australia 1989-2004
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IowaActual Fatalities vs. Possible
FatalitiesNumber of fatalities possible if the
rate of fatalities had remainedat 1990 level of
2.00 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled
Actual Fatalities
Possible Fatalities
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Iowa Fatalities Trend Line
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Five-year Average Annual Fatality Trend
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Iowa Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan (CHSP)

• Time for a Culture Change

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Opportunitiesthe Iowa CHSP

• In Iowa the low hanging fruit has been picked.
• More lives can be saved.
• Proven strategies are available to reach the
  remaining fruit.

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Iowa Transportation Overview
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Map of Public Roads
Iowa Public Roads
Iowa has nearly 39 miles of public roads for
every 1000 people.
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Iowa DOT/DPS Programs Address Local Safety Needs
Rural Interstate
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13
137
Average Fatalities per year
108
City/County 51
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Based on 2002-2006 Crash Fatalities
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Highway Crashes are Complex

• Driver conditions and behavior
• A contributing factor in 95 percent of crashes
• Primary factor in 67 percent of crashes
• Roadway design and environment
• A contributing factor in 28 percent of crashes
• Primary factor in 4 percent of crashes
• Vehicle
• A contributing factor in 8 percent of crashes
• Primary factor in 4 percent of crashes

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And So are the Solutions The Five Es of
Highway Safety
Multi-disciplinary strategies are the key to
further success
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Multi-DisciplineIowa Highway Safety Partnership
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One Death is One Too Many 445 Annual Fatalities
is Not AcceptablePutting a face on fatalities

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Safety Stakeholders SummitState and Local
EmphasisApril 26, 2006
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Iowas CHSP Will Be Data-Driven

• What will really move the numbers?

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Developing the Iowa CHSPIdentifying
Opportunities and Trends
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Iowa Success

• Impairment
• 24 percent alcohol involvement crashes
• 3rd lowest rate in the nation
• Occupant Protection
• 90 percent belt usage
• 11th highest in the nation
• Young Drivers
• Reduction in young driver traffic crashes and
  convictions

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Basis of Iowa Success Legislative Support
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Basis of Iowa Success Legislative Support

• 1982, per se OWI law.
• 1987 primary seatbelt law
  Life Toll was at 5804 lives saved
• 1987 TSIP ½ program for safety
  (1/2 of 1 RUTF)
• 1999 Iowas Graduated Driver License (GDL)
  (three tier licensing system for young
  drivers)
• 2003 .08 BAC impaired driving law.
• In 2004 child restraint provisions enhanced

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Basis of Iowa Success Program Support
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Basis of Iowa SuccessProgram Support

• In 2004, Iowa DOT adopted a paved shoulder and
  rumble strip policy on selected two-lane and
  four-lane facilities.
• In 2005, 298 miles of shoulders were
  paved.
• Iowa DPS and GTSB continue to coordinate
  multi-agency, high-profile enforcement efforts.

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Basis of Iowa SuccessProgram Support

• GTSB and the Department of Public Health continue
  to support child safety seat awareness and
  technician training.
• In the last decade, the Iowa DOT replaced a
  number of two-lane, high-crash roads with
  four-lane divided roads.
• The Iowa DNR has made progress in reducing the
  Iowa deer herd.

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Iowas SuccessOther Contributing Factors

• Iowa DOT Safety Engineering
• Designated State Safety Engineer and 7 staff
• Include low-cost safety improvements in
  resurfacing projects using 3R funds
• Safety funds programmed based on statewide
  analyses
• Allocate to Worst First
• Do not sub-allocate federal safety funds

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Safety Stakeholders SummitApril 26, 2006
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Summit Vote
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Top 8 Target Areas Iowa Recommended by CHSP
Safety Summit Vote

• Distracted Drivers
• Young Drivers
• Occupant Protection
• Lane Departure
• Older Persons Mobility
• Impaired Driver
• Intersections
• Local Roads

April 26, 2006 - 100 Summit AttendeesApril 27,
2006 - 60 SMS Attendees
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Target Area Team AssignmentsTeams met May - July

• Each team received guidelines and basic target
  area data to help them develop
• Goals,
• Objectives,
• Policy Strategies,
• Program Strategies, and
• Performance Measures.

Use the data Focus on what will REALLY move
the numbers
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Top Strategies

• Top 5 Policy
• Enhance GDL
• All Positions Belted
• Motorcycle Helmet Law
• Enforcement
• Safety Improvements

• Top 8 Program
• Lane Departure Countermeasures
• Safety Corridors
• Innovative Intersections
• MDSTs (Local Teams)
• Data Availability
• Older Driver Single Contact
• Public Education and Training
• Gravel Roads Awareness

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Top 5 Policy Strategies Legislative

• Strengthen Graduated Drivers License/Minor
  School License provisions
• Require occupant restraints in all seating
  positions
• Restore a motorcycle helmet law
• Support traffic safety enforcement and
  adjudication with adequate funding
• Increase Iowa Traffic Safety Improvement Program
  funding from one-half of one percent to a full
  one percent of the state road use tax fund

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Young Driver SafetyLegislative

• Strengthen MSL/GDL driver license laws with
  stronger provisions that are proven to reduce
  specific risks and save lives.
• Raise the school license age
• only 3 other states allow school licenses
• Comparing school license to those with an
  instructional license, the school license holders
  were 6.5 times more likely to have a moving
  violation conviction and 11.5 times more likely
  to have a crash
• Increase practice hours with parents
• Reduce night driving
• Restrict passengers
• Require occupant restraints in all seating
  positions
• Prohibit cell phone use while operating a vehicle

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Occupant ProtectionLegislative

• Require proper occupant restraints in all seating
  positions to address at-risk demographic groups.
• Iowas front seat belt law compliance rate for
  occupants is 90 percent.
• Still, nearly 50 percent of people who die in
  Iowa crashes are not wearing safety belts.
• Rear seating positions arent markedly safer
• Frequently at-risk back seat riders include
• Children between car-seat age and driving age
• Teen passengers
• Older persons

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Motorcycle SafetyLegislative
Top 5 Policy Strategies

• Motorcycle helmet law
• Age 17 and younger
• Iowa is one of just three states in the nation
  with no motorcycle safety helmet law
• Recent crash data
• Older riders are over-represented
• Fatality trend is up since 1996
• 2006
• 56 motorcycle fatalities
• 5 died over Labor Day weekend alone
• 2007
• 22 fatalities as of 7/10/07

1960 2006 Motorcycle Fatalities Trends
Highest in 1978 with over 80 fatalitiesLowest in
1996 with under 20 fatalities
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Law EnforcementLegislative

• Provide adequate resources and staffing levels to
  support enforcement and adjudication of traffic
  safety laws
• Officials estimate that
• Statewide, Iowa has lost about 500, or 10
  percent, of the law enforcement workforce in
  recent years

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Traffic Safety Improvement Program Legislative
Top 5 Policy Strategies

• Increase the Iowa Traffic Safety Improvement
  Program funding from one half of one percent
  (1/2 percent) to a full one percent (1 percent)
  of the states Road Use Tax Fund
• Could include provisions to ensure adequate local
  project funding
• Could include language to support CHSP goals

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Other Strategies Considered

• Motorcycle Safety
• Headlight modulators.
• 0.05 alcohol limit
• Distracted Driving
• More research is underway
• Technology may contribute to both the
  distractions and the solutions.

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Top 8 Program Strategies Administrative

• Lane Departure Countermeasures
• Safety Corridors
• Unpaved Rural Roads
• Innovative Intersection Designs
• Local Multi-Discipline Safety Teams
• Safety Data Availability and Assistance
• Multi-Discipline Traffic Safety Education and
  Training
• Older Persons Safe Mobility

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Lane Departure Administrative

• Enhance Lane Departure-related design standards
  and policies
• Paved shoulders / shoulder rumble strips
• Median cable barriers
• Pavement markings and signs
• Rumble stripes

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Safety Corridors Administrative

• Identify Safety Corridors and use
  multi-discipline strategies to mitigate
  specific crash causes or conditions.
• For example Lane departure analysis for Iowas
  5 program.

SPEED
IMPAIRED
UNBELTED
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Unpaved RoadsAdministrative

• Promote slower driving on rural unpaved roads.
• 21 percent of SVROR fatal and severe injury
  crashes occur on unpaved public roads
• More than 70 percent of unpaved-road,
  lane-departure crashes occur on low volume roads
  (lt100 vehicles/day)

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Innovative Intersection Designs Administrative

• Promote innovative intersection designs, such as
  roundabouts, where appropriate

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Local Multi-Discipline Safety Teams
Administrative

• Support local multi-discipline safety teams
  (MDSTs) to help identify and resolve local crash
  causes and enhance local crash response practices
• MDSTs use Safety Es to help address local
• traffic planning
• traffic management
• incident management

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Enhance Data Availability and Use Administrative

• Enhance data availability and assistance to state
  and local safety programs for problem
  identification and evidence-based decisions.
• Provide free periodic and on-demand local data
  analyses in user-friendly GIS maps, charts and
  tables. Examples follow
• Law enforcement (speed and alcohol crash
  involvement
• Engineering (roadway elements)
• Planning (density and crash causes in an MPO or
  RPA)
• Special areas (school routes, older driver areas)
• County profiles available at http//www.dot.state.
  ia.us/crashanalysis/
• ITDS additional services at http//www.ctre.iastat
  e.edu/itsds/
• geographic information system map examples
  follow

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Older Persons Safe Mobility Administrative

• Provide for a single point-of-contact among
  existing programs to help older people and their
  families navigate the resources available for
  changing safe mobility needs
• Promote older person safe mobility awareness and
  tools for sustaining safe driving conditions for
  aging drivers from competent driver to assisted
  rider stages

1. Florida 2. Pennsylvania3. West Virginia4.
North Dakota 5. Iowa
Percentage of residents 65
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Multi-Discipline Traffic Safety Education and
Training Administrative

• Engineering
• Law Enforcement
• Planning
• Other Es and local MDST teams
• The Motoring Public

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Timely Accurate Crash Data Collection

• More than 65 of Iowas crash data is reported
  electronically.
• Immediate availability
• Iowa collects crash data on public roads.
• Iowa crash data collected with Traffic and
  Criminal Software (TraCS) using the Iowa
  National Model.
• The data is available for local use
  simultaneously with the electronic transfer to
  the statewide files.
• TraCS is currently used by over 20 states and
  provinces. http//www.tracsinfo.us/Tracs_Home.asp
  
• Smart Map location tool enables consistent,
  automated capture of event location on all
  reports statewide.
• Data is available to local governments.

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Outstanding Data Analysis ToolsUsed both
statewide and locally

• Ability to analyze data in detail to focus state
  and local resources where we can optimize the
  return on our investments.
• Iowas range of data analysis tools software is
  available to state and local entities.
• Technical support and training is made available
  as needed.
• Many standard reports by county or city are
  available online.

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CHSP Timeline

• September 2006 - content review and acceptance by
  state agency executives
• April 2007 - Joint submission to FHWA for process
  approval. (Department of Transportation and
  Department of Public Safety)
• May 2007 - FHWA Approval
• May 2007 - Safety Summit
• July 2007 Presentation to the Iowa DOT
  Commission
• Forward - CHSP Implementation through Action
  Teams and the Iowa Traffic Safety Alliance

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The care of human life and
happiness is the first and only
objective of good government. -Thomas
Jefferson
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Iowa Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan

• For More Information
• Mary Stahlhut
• CHSP Project Manager
• Iowa Department of Transportation
• 515.239.1169
• Mary.Stahlhut_at_dot.iowa.gov