1-1

LOW COST SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

Practitioner Workshop

Introduction – Session #1

1-2

Logistics

• Health and safety (emergency exits, procedures for evacuation, etc.)

• Please turn off cell phones/Pagers

• Breaks (when, restrooms, telephones)

• Lunch arrangements

• Other site-specific issues

1-3

Course Instructors

Name, Company, e-mail address, phone #

1-5

Self Introductions

• Who you are

• Who you work for and what you do

• What experience you have with safety improvements

• What you want to get out of the course

1-6

This is a workshop! Expect to do some work!

• Ask your questions as you have them, Please!

• “Parking Lot” for Questions to be addressed later in workshop

• Work problems and exercises (based on actual case studies)

• Facilitated questioning and discussions

Discussion

1-7

Introduction

Learning Outcomes:

1. Review National Traffic Crash Experience

2. Relate Substantive Safety Approach to Nominal Safety Applications

1-8

Introduction

Traffic Safety Facts 2003: 43,220 Deaths, up 0.9% all-time high since

1990

2,891,000 Injuries, down 1.2%

6.305 million police reported crashesA crash every 5 secondsAn injury every 10 secondsA fatality every 13 minutes

1-9

Introduction

2002 & 2003 Highway Statistics:

Exposure Measure

Year %

Change2002 2003

Vehicle Miles Traveled 2,855,756M 2,879,894M* +0.8%

Registered Vehicles 225,684,815 230,199,000** +2.0%

Population*** 287,973,924 290,809,777 +1.0%

1-10

Introduction

2003 Highway Traffic Fatal & Injury Rates:

RoleYear

% Change2002 2003

Occupants 2,735,000 2,708,000 -1.0%

Drivers 1,863,000 1,848,000 -0.8%

Passengers 873,000 859,000 -1.6%

Motorcyclists 65,000 64,000 -1.5%

Non-Occupants 126,000 119,000 -5.6%

Pedestrians 71,000 68,000 -4.2%

Pedalcyclists 48,000 44,000 -8.3%

Other* 7,000 8,000 +14%

TOTAL 2,926,000 2,891,000 -1.2%

1-11

Introduction

2002 Highway Traffic Fatalities Trend43,220

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

1-12

Introduction

Cost of All Crashes in U.S. (Year 2003)$231 Billion$820 (~₤500 for every person in

the U.S.)2.3% of the GDP

1-13

Introduction

• U.S. Highway System Among World’s Safest– Fatality Rate has decreased or remained same (as

Traffic is Increasing)– But over 42,000 Deaths & 2,920,000 Injuries per Year

• US DOT Safety Goals (FHWA, NHTSA, & FMCSA)– 20% Reduction in Highway deaths & injuries by 2008– 50% Reduction in Large-Vehicle-Related deaths &

injuries

1-14

Introduction

Substantive Safety Varies Significantly by Type of Road, Location and Other Factors

Representative Accident Rates by Location and Type of Road

Fatal AccidentsInjury Accidents

Total Accidents

RURALNumber per MVM

Number per MVM

Number per MVM

2 Lanes 0.07 0.94 2.394 or more lanes, divided subtotal 0.063 0.77 2.09Freeway 0.025 0.27 0.79URBAN2 Lanes 0.045 1.51 4.944 or more lanes, undivided 0.04 2.12 6.654 or more lanes, divided 0.027 1.65 4.86Freeway 0.012 0.4 1.43

1-15

Introduction

Rural Road Safety by The Numbers

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Local

Min

or C

ol.

Maj

or C

ol.

Min

or A

rt.

Maj

or A

rt.

Inte

rsta

te

Fatality Rate is 2.5 times that for Urban Roads.

40 % of Travel and 60% of Fatalities

1-16

Introduction

Safety

“Safer”- a relative term

– an absolute

1-17

Link Between Standards and Safety

How can we make highways sufficiently safe?

Does applying standards achieve it?

How about cost-benefit?What can are the

countermeasures that highway professionals can use?

STANDARDS

DESIGN

CRASHES

1-18

Introduction – Exercise I

Identify some of the Low Cost Safety Measure that you are aware of?

Let’s list them

Discussion

1-19

Introduction – Exercise I

Low Cost Safety Improvements:

Discussion _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1-20

Introduction

What is “low cost” ?– Agency definition– Funding source (capital program, 3R, or Operation

and Maintenance budget)– Developer funded

No “official” definition in this course– One agency’s “low cost” is another agency’s “too

expensive” !– Generally < $10,000

1-21

Is this road ‘less safe’ or ‘more safe’?

– Exercise II

1-22

Introduction – Exercise II

What are some Low Cost Safety Measures (i.e., Traffic Control Devices, shoulder treatments, lighting….) that could make this road safer?

Let’s list them

Discussion

1-23

Introduction – Exercise II

List Low Cost Safety Measures (i.e., Traffic Control Devices, shoulder rumble, lighting….) that could make this road safer? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1-24

Is this road ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’? – Exercise II

LightingAdvance Warning Signs Delineators Chevrons Shoulder Rumble Strip

Which of these low cost measures are required (i.e., nominal requirement)?

1-25

Substantive and Nominal Safety

• Nominal Safety is examined in reference to compliance with standards, warrants, guidelines and sanctioned design procedures

• Substantive Safety is the actual crash frequency and severity for a highway or roadway

1-26

Nominal Safety

Nominal Safety – Advance Warning Sign + Advisory Speed Plaque

1-27

Substantive and Nominal Safety

Nominal Safety

Yes No

Complies ?

Yes

• Defines users legal behaviour

• Provides for special user needs

• Protects professionals from claims of legal liability

1st Step

1-28

Nominal Safety

Nominal Safety – Advance Warning Sign + Advisory Speed Plaque

1st Step

Speed limit = 45 mph Traffic Volume = 2,000 - Expect 2 crashes per year at this traffic volume

What if this curve experienced 7 crashes in the past two years with the Advance Warning Sign?

1-29

Nominal and Substantive Safety

Nominal Safety – Advance Warning Sign + Advisory Speed Plaque

1st Step 2nd Step

Advance Warning Sign + Advisory Speed + Chevrons = “Safer” = Substantive Safety

1-30

Introduction

Example:

Nominal Safety – Advance Warning Sign –Conventional Road Size

+Oversize +Double-Up +Yellow Flashers = 35% + 25% reduction in Crashes = Substantive Safety

1st Step 2nd Step

1-31

Introduction

New approach to Geometric Design and Application of Traffic Control Devices and to Safety Improvements is Substantive Safety.

Why?

Discussion

1-32

Nominal Safety

Legal Liability and Substantive Safety Approach:

1. “Going” beyond the nominal requirements of the Green Book/MUTCD demonstrates clear satisfaction of Nominal requirements

2. Juries and Judges look favorably upon actions by highway agencies which go beyond minimums

1-33

New & Proven Technologies

Introduction

1-34

AASHTO Strategic Safety Plan Guidebooks:

Introduction

Website for NCHRP Report 500 Guidebooks is:

http://www4.trb.org/trb/crp.nsf/All+Projects/NCHRP+17-18(3)

1-35

Introduction

Countermeasures EFFECTS

Proven

Tried

Experimental

Discussion

Experimental

Proven

Tried

1-36

Introduction

Example:

Nominal Safety – Advance Warning Sign –Conventional Road Size

+ Chevrons = 49% reduction in Crashes = Substantive Safety

CRF = -22% CRF = -22% -49 %

TriedTried

1-37

New & Proven Technologies

Introduction

Specific Crash Modification Factors/ Crash Reduction Factors are in the Notebook Appendix

Table of Low Cost Safety Crash Reduction Factors

Countermeasure Total Crashes Injury CrashesRight Angle

Crashes

Warning Signs and Measures

Advance Warning Signs (General) 25%

Advance Curve Warning Signswith Advisory Speed Plaques 22%

Advance Curve Warning Signswithout Advisory Speed Plaques 18%Advance Intersection WarningSigns - Rural 40%Advance Intersection WarningSigns - Urban 30%

Increase Size of Warning Sign 15%Double-Up of Warning Signs(Left+Right Sides of Road) 31%

1-39

Introduction

Review Questions:

Nominal Safetycompliance with standards, warrants,

guidelines and sanctioned design procedures

Substantive Safety

the expected crash frequency and severity for a highway or roadway

1-40

Introduction

Review Questions: What is the relationship of compliance with the Green Book and the MUTCD to Nominal Safety?

Apply low cost safety improvements beyond the nominal (minimal) requirements

How can you reduce crashes where there is a Substantive Safety problem?

Ordinarily can be expected to result in nominal safety performance

1-41

Introduction

Learning Outcomes:

1. Reviewed National Traffic Crash Experience

2. Related Substantive Safety Approach to Nominal Safety Applications

1-42

Questions?

Introduction