Newsletter — September/December 2005
Roadway Safety Initiatives with Impact
2005 National Roadway Safety Awards
On November 15, 2005, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Roadway Safety Foundation honored the winners of the "2005 National Roadway Safety Awards". Out of sixty-five (65) life-saving projects submitted, fourteen (14) winners received the "2005 National Roadway Safety Award". Selected for their innovation and excellence in operations, planning, and roadway design to reduce fatalities, winners were honored for the implementation of their roadway safety initiative and positive impact. The winners represented a broad spectrum of the highway safety community: State Departments of Transportations (DOT), State Police Agencies, Metropolitan Planning Organization and the U.S. Forest Service.
The diversity is just another example of how we can all contribute to saving lives. The winning projects represented the key components of safety: engineering, education, and enforcement. Honoring and presenting the awards were the FHWA's Administrator (Acting), Richard Capka; Office of Safety Associate Administrator (Acting), Michael Halladay; and Gregory Cohen, Executive Director, Roadway Safety Foundation.
Honorees
Florida Department of Transportation - Intersection Enforcement Lights: These lights facilitate enforcement of red-light running violations. They reduced red-light running violations by fifty percent (50%) when they were installed in Clearwater, Florida. Contact: Patrick A. Brady, 850-245-1504 or Patrick.brady@dot.state.fl.us- Ohio Department of Transportation (two awards) - The Work Zone Crash Analysis: This project uses historical and near real-time data to prevent crashes, detect current problems, and respond quickly. New statewide standards to address crash factors identified by the project were developed and implemented. New Highway Safety Program: The new program works across jurisdictional boundaries to diversify Ohio's highway safety program and uses real-time data to implement solutions quickly to reduce fatalities and crashes. This data-driven approach, coupled with a doubling of safety funds, resulted in the second largest decrease in fatalities in 2004. Contact: Michelle May, 614-644-8309 or Michelle.may@dot.state.oh.us
- USDA Forest Service - Temporary Traffic Control for Wildland Fire Incident Management Activities: A cooperative effort with the Montana Departments of Transportation and Natural Resources and Conservation to protect the safety of motorists during forest fires. Together, they adopted incident management procedures and products and an agreement that defined the roles and responsibilities of State and Federal agencies involved in incident response. Contact: Donna Sheehy, 406-329-3312 or Dsheehy@fs.fed.us
- Washington State Patrol - Fatality Collision Reduction: the Patrol's East Region reduced fatal collisions to zero (0) in 2004. They focused enforcement on high-risk driving behaviors (dangerous speed, aggressive driving and safety belt violations) and held managers accountable for highway safety outcomes. Contact: Lt. Stephen R. Burns, 360-651-6339 or Steve.burns@wsp.wa.gov
- The South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization - Local Safety Audit Program: South Jersey used a data-driven and proactive safety audit process designed to reduce the number of crashes on the region's two-lane rural roads. The audits produced low-cost, quick-turnaround safety improvements expected to yield immediate safety results that were supported by local decision-makers. Contact: Timothy Chelius, 856-794-1941 or Tchelius@sjtpo.org
- Utah Department of Transportation - High Tensioned Cable Barrier as an Interim Safety Solution on I-15: Use of the barriers resulted in a ninety-one percent (91%) reduction in average fatalities and injuries and prevented forty (40) high-speed crossover crashes. The department was also able to recover forty-five percent (45%) of the cost installed by using the barriers in other corridors. Contact: Robert J. Clayton, 801-964-4521 or Robertclayton@utah.gov
- Virginia State Police - Safety at Sea: In 2004, troopers conducted ship-board highway safety programs for over thirty-five thousand (35,000) Navy personnel on their way for shore leave. Classes included high-risk behaviors that endanger Navy personnel once they leave the ship-driving under the influence, road rage, distracted and drowsy driving. Contact: Corinne Geller, 804-674-2789 or Corinne.geller@vsp.virginia.gov
- Idaho Transportation Department - Idaho Mobile Program for Accident Collection (Impact2K/WebCARS): This software system provides state-of-the-art crash data collection, analysis tools, and information that aid safety officials to identify problems and develop strategies for increasing safety on Idaho's roads. It simplifies and facilitates crash reporting for law enforcement officers and is provided free of charge to all local agencies. Contact: Mark Strait, 208-334-8106 or Mark.strait@itd.idaho.gov
- Iowa Department of Transportation - Highway Safety GIS: Iowa DOT converted ten years of crash data to a GIS system to improve the timeliness and crash location of the data it provides to state and local users. The new system has become a multidisciplinary and multi-agency tool that is distributed statewide. Free training and technical support are provided to empower the entire state to use data-driven decision-making for highway safety. Contact: Joyce Emery, 515-239-1016 or Joyce.emery@dot.iowa.gov
- Minnesota Department of Transportation - Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan: Minnesota DOT worked with the Department of Public Safety to develop a plan that reduces current highway safety fatalities from six-hundred fifty (650) per year to five-hundred (500) or less by 2008. The long-term goal is zero (0) fatalities on Minnesota highways. Forty-five percent (45%) of fatal crashes occur on local roads. Minnesota DOT worked extensively with local agencies to develop strategies and products to lower the fatal crashes on their roads. A Safety Toolbox was developed as a companion to the Plan to assist local agencies. Contact: Loren Hill, 651-634-5100 or Loren.hill@dot.state.mn.us
- Missouri Department of Transportation - Blueprint for Safer Roadways: The Blueprint is designed to reduce fatal and serious injuries on the State's roadways to one-thousand (1,000) or fewer by 2008. It serves as an umbrella guide to increase coordination, communication and cooperation among safety advocates. The Coalition heads the effort to implement the Blueprint with the support of sate and local agencies, law enforcement, planners, non-profit organizations and other safety advocates. Contact: Leanna Depue, 573-751-7643 or Leanna.Depue@modot.mo.gov
- Pennsylvania State Police - Problem Specific Policing/PROphecy: By using incident analysis and real-time data to deploy forces, the Pennsylvania State Police have effectively reduced fatal crashes statewide by seven percent (7%) over two (2) years. Contact: Captain William R. Fraley, 717-783-5517 or Wfraley@state.pa.us
- California Department of Transportation - Run Off the Road Task Force: The Task Force developed criteria and guidelines to identify high concentrations of run-off-the-road collisions through more effective use of safety data. These criteria and guidelines will serve as tools to develop a prioritized list of high-crash concentrations throughout the State. Contact: Craig Copelan, 916-654-4682 or Craig.copelan@dot.ca.gov
The FHWA Office of Safety thanks and congratulate the award winners, and all of the nominees representing the 65 life-saving projects that participated in this year's competition. The FHWA Administrator's (Acting) speech can be viewed at: www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/re051115.htm.
You may also download the complete brochure of the awards at: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/awards.htm. The next National Roadway Safety Awards competition will take place in 2007. For more information, please contact: Kathy Krause, FHWA, 202-366-9265 or Kathy.krause@fhwa.dot.gov.
DOT & FHWA Awards
Congratulations to Safety Champs
At the Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary's and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Administrator's Awards Ceremonies held in November 2005, several safety employees were awarded for their contribution and accomplishments. We would like to acknowledge and congratulate them as follows:
ADMINISTRATOR'S AWARD FOR SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT
- Davey L. Warren, Highway Engineer, Office of Safety Programs
- Michael A. Davies, Safety and Traffic Engineer, Maine Division
- David A. Morena, Safety and Traffic Operations Engineer, Michigan Division
SECRETARY'S TEAM AWARD
ssociate Administrator For Federal Lands
Reconstruction of Pennsylvania Avenue; Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division
- Michael Trentacoste, Director, Office of Safety Research & Development
National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Working Group on the Speed Management Strategic Initiative
- Beth Alicandri, Director, Office of Safety Programs
- Davey L. Warren, Highway Engineer, Office of Safety Programs
Congratulations to all of the FHWA's recipients!
Peter Hatzi Retired
After thirty-two (32) years of Federal service, Peter said good-bye to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in September 2005.
He began his career with the FHWA as a Highway Engineer Trainee. Throughout his career in various offices within the FHWA, Peter demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Federal service. In 1986, he was awarded the Administrator's Award for Superior Achievement for his successful accomplishments in advancing comprehensive and linked file systems in State highway agencies. Most recently, Peter managed the FHWA's outreach and evaluation of technical details involved with the proposed retroreflectivity rulemaking.
In addition, his efforts to resolve potentially controversial issues were extremely valuable during the rulemaking process. Peter's efforts and record of accomplishment will long be a source of pride for FHWA and the Office of Safety. He will be missed; we congratulate him as he enjoys his retirement.
Peter Hatzi
Update on Pedestrian Safety Focus: States and Cities Activities
As discussed in previous editions of this newsletter, the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Office of Safety has an ongoing project to develop a guide on "How to Develop a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan," which was awarded to the University of North Carolina (UNC) Highway Safety Research Center through a subcontract with BMISG. The purpose of the project is to assist the pedestrian focus states (AZ, CA, FL, GA, HI, IL, MI, NJ, NM, NY, NC, PA, TX) and cities (Los Angeles, Phoenix, Detroit, Chicago, and New York City) in developing and implementing pedestrian safety plans.
UNC completed the second draft of the Action Plan document, which was sent out to our stakeholders for their input. Many great comments were received that are now being incorporated into the final document, which will be available in the coming months. In addition, the FHWA has been hosting monthly conference calls, with those in the focus states and cities who are involved with this activity, to discuss items of interest and share information. UNC has developed a menu of technical assistance options for each of the states and cities to receive customized technical assistance in developing their plans.
Several technical assistance sessions have taken place and the next scheduled session is January 9-13, 2006. We also co-hosted a peer exchange with AASHTO/NCHRP for the Pedestrian Safety focus states and cities, in conjunction with the Association of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Professionals' Professional Development Seminar in Chicago, October 9-11 (see the related article in this newsletter for more information on the meeting).
For information, contact Tamara Redmon at tamara.redmon@fhwa.dot.gov, or view the website at: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/ped/index.htm.
TFHRC Conducts SegwayTM Research with Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST)
The Federal Highway Administration's Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) in McLean will be conducting research of the Segway™ Human Transporter (HT) during the Fall of 2005. The Segway™ HT is a two-wheeled, self-balancing "electric personal assistive mobility device" that can move at speeds up to twelve (12) miles per hour. The goal of the study is to understand how expert and novice riders of the Segway™ perceive various sidewalk conditions and perform simple navigation tasks on an obstacle course. The study results will provide data for policy makers and planners for improving safety on pedestrian/bike facilities. The study will take place in two parts. First, riders will be trained and perform simple tasks on a sidewalk obstacle course. Then, they will watch a series of staged videos that show sidewalk conditions that vary in pedestrian volume, crowding, and passing events. Blair Stocks, a TJHSST student, will work with the Researchers, the Lead Technician, and several Research Assistants to assist with the design, set-up, and maintenance of video and data collection equipment both for a) staging videos prior to data collection with Segway riders and b) actually recording participant sessions with riders. Multiple cameras, digital recording devices, and a bicycle computer will be used. Tasks will involve determining the best placement of equipment to capture information necessary to the goals of the study, monitoring data quality, backing-up videos, setting-up and dismantling equipment, and helping to coordinate research tasks.
Blair is one of five (5) TJHSST students working with the RD&T researchers on various projects at TFHRC as part of TJHSST's mentorship program. The students are to work approximately one-hundred fifty (150) hours each at TFHRC from September 2005 to January 2006. For more information: Carol Tan, 202-493-3315, carol.tan@fhwa.dot.gov
Improving Pedestrian Safety with Road Safety Audits
Road Safety Audits (RSAs) are a useful tool to help communities reduce roadway fatalities. RSAs are a formal process where a team of experts examines a roadway (which can be either planned or existing) and uses guidelines and checklists to evaluate roadway safety. The RSA findings can then be used to make infrastructure changes to improve roadway safety. Unfortunately, the existing RSA materials provide limited technical guidance on what auditors should look for to address pedestrian safety.
The Federal Highway Administration's Office of Safety Programs is addressing this gap through a task order contract recently awarded to BMI-SG, with the UNC Highway Research Center, Hamilton Associates, and PerformTech serving as subcontractors. The task order team is reviewing existing pedestrian-related safety materials to develop new guidelines and checklists that will be included in the RSA software package. The new materials will be completed in Fall 2006 and will be incorporated into the RSA software sometime thereafter. For more information contact Gabe Rousseau, gabriel.rousseau@fhwa.dot.gov, 202-366-8044.
New "Designing for Pedestrian Safety" Workshop
Question: On average, how many pedestrians are killed each year on our nation's roadways?
Answer: 4,750 or about 11% of all roadway fatalities
There are many disciplines within the transportation industry that incorporate safety into their processes. An example would be a designer using the AASHTO Design Guide: A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, also known as the Green Book. The designer tries to balance multiple factors, such as mobility, capacity, and safety. Another example is maintenance, where those who maintain the transportation system need to consider how to operate and maintain a system without giving up safety.
However, with an average of four-thousand seven hundred fifty (4,750) pedestrian fatalities a year, it is obvious there are locations and corridors that need to be rebalanced to have a higher emphasis on pedestrian safety. Therefore, the FHWA has developed a workshop, "Designing for Pedestrian Safety", that is based upon the NCHRP 500 Volume 10: A Guide for Reducing Collisions involving Pedestrians and other well-respected pedestrian reports.
The Designing for Pedestrian Safety Workshop provides safety countermeasures that will reduce fatalities and crashes at problem locations and corridors. Also, this particular pedestrian workshop covers pedestrian fatality statistics both nationally and in individual states, as well as countermeasures in the following areas:
- Strategies to reduce pedestrian exposure to vehicular traffic.
- Strategies to improve sight distance and/or visibility between motor vehicles and pedestrians.
- Strategies to reduce vehicle speed.
- Strategies to improve pedestrian and motorist safety awareness and behavior. Because a comprehensive safety approach is usually the most effective approach to reducing fatalities, a short portion of the workshop will discuss these strategies.
- Strategies for the implementation process.
Pedestrian Safety is one of the FHWA's Vital Few areas under Safety. As a Vital Few area-and therefore an agency priority-more attention and resources should be channeled toward Pedestrian Safety.
If you would like to schedule or learn more about this new workshop, please contact Peter Eun at 360-753-9551, or via e-mail at peter.eun@fhwa.dot.gov.
New Faces in the Office of Safety
Gabriel Rousseau
Gabriel Rousseau joined the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Office of Safety in August to assist with the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program. He will primarily be working on FHWA's Countermeasure Deployment Project in three cities (Las Vegas, Miami, and San Francisco) and on a project to develop a Pedestrian Module for Road Safety Audits. Gabe comes to us from the FHWA's Safety Research Office.
He's excited that he can now bike to work at his new job. In fact, both Gabe and his wife bike to work. He can be reached at Gabriel.Rousseau@fhwa.dot.gov, or by calling 202-366-8044.
Tim Arnade
Tim Arnade is another addition to the FHWA's Office of Safety. As a lifelong cyclist married to a lifelong walking enthusiast (and two young children that walk to their neighborhood elementary and middle schools), Tim seems a natural fit to head up the FHWA's new Safe Routes to School Program. Born and raised in Florida, he began his career in international development working for three (3) years in the South Pacific-two (2) years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Solomon Islands and one (1) year with a non-profit organization in the Fiji Islands. He has worked now for over twenty (20) years in Washington, DC - ten (10) years for the U.S. General Services Administration and eleven (11) years with FHWA.
Prior to assuming his new duties, Tim served as Special Assistant to the FHWA Administrator for seven (7) years and Special Assistant to the head of FMCSA for two (2) years. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Geography from the University of South Florida and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from George Washington University. He resides in Arlington, VA, with his wife and two young daughters. His phone number is 202-366-2205 and his e-mail address is Tim.Arnade@fhwa.dot.gov.
FHWA Safety Activities Newsletter To Undergo Construction
FHWA Safety Activities Newsletter will be re-designed in 2006 to reflect a renewed commitment to providing life saving information on a national scale. The previous format has served us well, but will be retired in order to make way for a broader approach to the vital information dissemination required in pursuit of our primary goal of saving lives.
National Conference & Exhibit Schedule
| Dates |
Location |
Event |
|---|---|---|
2005 |
||
| December 11-14 |
Washington, D.C. |
White House Conference on Aging |
2006 |
||
| January 22-26 |
Washington, D.C. |
Annual Transportation Research Board Meeting (TRB) http://www.trb.org/meeting/default.asp |
| March 3-7 |
Fort Lauderdale, FL |
ATSSA 36th Annual Convention and Traffic Expo www.atssa.com |
| March 14-16 |
Washington, D.C. |
The FHWA National Safety Conference (Federal Only) |
| March 19-22 |
San Antonio, TX |
|
| April 3-9 |
Washington, D.C. |
National Work Zone Awareness Week 2006 |
| April 9-11 |
Austin, TX |
Lifesaver Conference – National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities http://www.lifesaversconference.org/ |
| May 7-9 |
Philadelphia, PA |
ITS America's 2006 Annual Meeting & Exposition - www.ITSA.org |
| June 29 |
National |
50th Interstate Anniversary Celebration: Signing of Interstate Highway Act - http://interstate50th.org/ |
| July 30-Aug 3 |
Palm Springs, CA |
2006 International Traffic Records Forum http://www.atsip.org/index.php/2006foruminfo/ |
| August 6-9 |
Milwaukee, WI |
ITE 2006 Annual Meeting and Exhibit |
|
Saving Lives — A Vital Goal |
|
|---|---|
Vision |
Improving Transportation for a Strong America. |
Goal |
To continually improve highway safety by reducing the number of highway fatalities and injuries including large trucks. Ensuring safe travel on highways is a guiding principle throughout the FHWA. |
Focus |
High-risk areas through technical assistance, research, training, data analysis, and public information as well as through compliance and education. The FHWA is working with safety partners to heighten safety awareness within the highway community, business, industry, and the Public. |
Priorities |
Roadway Departure, Intersections, and Pedestrians |
