Achieving Safety Results by Addressing

Behavioral IssuesJune 28, 2017

Presented by: Nicole Waldheim, Cambridge Systematics

Session Agenda

• Welcome and Introductions

• Importance of Transportation Safety

– Human Factors and Crashes

• Opportunities to Engage in Behavioral Safety

• Resources to Address Behavioral Safety

• Key Takeaways

7

Session Objectives

3

• Summarize the need to address transportation safety

and move towards zero deaths through behavioral

solutions

• Discuss how RTPOs can become engaged in

behavioral safety and fund solutions

• Work through the steps to identify and address

behavioral solutions

Behavioral Safety

• The factors contributing to a crash generally fall into three

categories – human, vehicle, and roadway/environment

• Human factors are attributes of the driver that may

contribute to a crash

4

Common Human Risk Factors

• Distraction

• Drowsy

• Impairment (drugs or alcohol)

• Not buckling up

• Aggressive Driving/Speeding

• Age

• Exposure (bike/pedestrian,

motorcycle)

Why Address Human Factors

5

Introductions/Information Sharing

• Name

• Agency

• Based on crash data or anecdotal evidence, what is the

biggest behavioral safety issue in your planning area?

• Have you been able to address behavioral needs in your

planning area? If yes, how?

6

Importance of Transportation Safety

National Transportation Safety Facts

• Over 40,000 estimated motor vehicle fatalities in 2016

– 6% increase from 2015 and 14% increase from 2014

• During daylight hours, 660,000 drivers are using cell

phones while driving (2017 NHTSA Report)

• In 2015, motor vehicle fatalities was the single largest

cause of death for persons aged 15-29.

• In 2015, alcohol-impaired driving was involved in 29

percent of traffic fatalities

8

Rural Transportation Safety Facts

• 19 % of the US population lives in rural areas, but rural

fatalities account for 49% of all fatalities (2015)

• Of the 35,092 traffic fatalities in 2015, 17,114 (49%)

occurred in rural areas

• Rural fatalities increased 2% from 2014 to 2015

• For fatalities occurring in rural areas, 50% of passengers

were unrestrained

– 61% of rural pickup truck occupants killed were unrestrained.

9

Toward Zero Deaths – You Can

Contribute

• National strategy, adopted by many transportation agencies, that envisions a transportation system free of fatalities

– Engineering Solutions

• Roadway Design

• Countermeasures

• Speed Limits

– Behavioral Solutions

• Law Enforcement

• Education/Outreach Campaigns

• Emergency Response

– Vehicle Solutions

• Connected and Autonomous Vehicles

10

Be Part of the Solution

• Some ninety percent of

motor vehicle crashes

are caused at least in

part by human error.

• Participate in/convene safety meetings

• Identify top contributing factors to crashes

• Identify/Participate in solutions

• Find partners and resources

11

Opportunities to Engage in Behavioral Safety

Collaboration

13

Opportunities to Coordinate on

Behavioral Safety

• SHSP teams or committees

• Highway Safety Office

coalitions (i.e. safe

communities)

• Regional or local safety

committees

• Law Enforcement, Insurance

companies, Major employers,

Universities/Colleges, Drivers

Education, Non-profits (MADD,

AARP)

Participate on Existing Groups Establish a Group

13

Examples of Stakeholders to Engage

• Houma Regional Transportation Safety Plan

• North Shore Regional Transportation Plan

• Bozeman Community Traffic Safety Plan

• Destination Safe Coalition (MARC)

Community Traffic Resource Center

14

Key Partner

Highway Safety Office

• Every state has a Highway Safety Office

• Responsible for planning and implementing programs to address behavioral traffic safety issues

• Develop Highway Safety Plans (HSPs) every July and Annual Reports (AR) every December

– HSP is data driven and outlines programs eligible for NHTSA grants

– Applications for grants every January/February

– Annual report demonstrates progress on previous years programs and performance

• Administer Federal Grants (402 and 405)

15

Highway Safety Office Resources

• Listing of every State’s Highway safety plan

– https://one.nhtsa.gov/links/StateDocs/pages/SafetyPlans.htm

– Search “highway safety plan nhtsa”

• NHTSA Countermeasures That Work

– https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/812202-countermeasuresthatwork8th.pdf

• NHTSA Grants Program

– https://www.nhtsa.gov/highway-safety-grants-program

16

Opportunities to Engage in Behavioral Safety

Data Analysis and Strategy Development

Contributing Factors Analysis

• Analysis Areas

• Who is involved in a crash

(age & gender)

• What is involved in a crash

(number & type of vehicle)

• When the crash occurred

(year, month, date, hour)

• Where the crash occurred

(segment, intersection,

transportation analysis zone,

other)

• Why a crash occurs (behavioral

& infrastructure factors)

• What it Does

• Provides high level information

on crash characteristics

• Identifies areas of concern

(emphasis areas)

18

Contributing Factor Data

• Minimum

– Total crashes and/or total fatalities & serious injuries

– Demographics (i.e. age, gender, time of day, day of week, location)

– Collision type (i.e. run off road, rear-end)

– Behavioral Factors (i.e. impairment, seatbelt usage)

• Optional Data

– Person data (i.e. repeat offenses)

– Motor vehicle make, type, & total occupants

– Crash incidence data (i.e. roadway conditions)

19

2020

Identify The Key RisksContributing Factor Analysis

• Obtain 5 years of crash data for your planning area

– Fatalities, Serious Injuries, and/or All Crashes

• Depends on what is available

• Also want to have a sufficient sample size

– For data received, also need to request contributing factor

information

• Many states have a crash data portal to assist with this

type of request or can complete a custom request

20

2121

Identify the Key RisksTypes of Contributing Factor Analysis

49.1%

35.3% 31.8%

19.6% 18.4% 17.9% 15.5% 14.8%8.6% 6.5% 5.9% 3.8% 2.1% 1.9%

0%

8%

16%

24%

32%

40%

48%

56%

Ro

ad

way

Dep

art

ure

Inte

rsect

ion

Sp

eed

ing

Yo

ung

Drive

r

Unre

stra

ined

Alc

oho

l

Ag

ing

Drive

r

Dis

tract

ed

Drive

r

Mo

torc

ycle

Larg

e V

ehic

le

Ped

est

rian

Dro

wsy

Drive

r

Dru

gs

Bic

ycle

Traffic Deaths and Severe Injuries

2001 to 2015

Traffic Fatalities and Serious Injuries2011 to 2015

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Under influence of alcohol

Distracted

Speeding

Bicycle/ Pedestrian

Young driver

Unbelted

Fatal (K) Serious Injury (A) Evident Injury (B) Possible Injury (C) PDO0.1%

0.7%

0.7%

7.0%

1.8%

2.7%

2.8%

7.7%

18.1%

4.6%

4.3%

21.3%

14.0%

13.3%

21.4%

21.2%

13.1%

56.4%

Train-Related

Bicycle

Work Zone-Related

Distracted Driving-Related

Drowsy Driving

ATV Involved

Pedestrian

Motorcycle Involved

Intersection-Related

CMV Involved

Involved Driver with Invalid License

Young Driver Involved

Older Driver Involved

Speeding-Related

Aggressive Driving-Related

Occupant Protection

Alcohol- or Drug-Related

Roadway Departure-Related

0.3%

0.3%

0.8%

1.1%

1.5%

6.0%

6.2%

9.6%

9.9%

11.8%

13.4%

14.2%

19.4%

29.7%

42.2%

47.1%

53.1%

65.0%All Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes

Serious Injuries Fatalities

2222

Identify the Key RisksPrioritize Contributing Factors

• Number of fatalities and serious injuries

• Crash Severity

• Percent of Fatal Crashes Higher than Total Crashes

• Fatality and Serious Injury Trends

• Stakeholder Input

Commercial Vehicles

Bicycles

Inattentive Drivers

Unlicensed Drivers

Pedestrians

Unrestrained Occupants

Motorcycles

Alcohol (No Drugs)

Older Drivers (65+)

Alcohol and/or Other Drugs

Speed-Related

Young Drivers (15-25)

Intersections

Aggressive Driving

Roadway Departure

Cra

sh S

eve

rity

Crash Frequency

31

.3%

16

.3%

2.4

%

2.3

%

2.2

%

0.8

%

0.5

%

44

.3%

15

.9%

9.0

%

0.6

%

6.9

%

4.8

%

1.2

%

31

.3%

20

.8%

18

.8%

2.1

% 5.2

%

25

.0%

4.2

%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Aggressive/careless driving

Lane departure Alcohol or drugs usesuspected

Improper passing Speeding Pedestrian involved Bicyclist involved

Total Severe Fatal

Potential Emphasis Area

2009 Fatal and

Serious Injury

Crashes

Annual Change Average Annual

Change, 2009-2013

(5-Year Trend line

Slope) 2010 2011 2012 2013

Roadway Departure Crashes 747 6.2% 11.2% -0.3% -8.8% +19.6 per Year

Aggressive Driving Involved 501 9.4% 10.0% -6.0% -3.4% +11.3 per Year

+36.2 per Year

Intersections Crashes 419 19.1% 15.2% 1.0% -3.8% +36.2 per Year

Young Drivers - 15-25 Involved 401 20.7% 6.0% 0.4% -12.0% +13.5 per Year

Speed-Related Crashes 379 11.1% 7.6% -8.4% -3.9% +3.4 per Year

Alcohol and/or Other Drugs Involved 288 -2.8% 29.3% 11.3% -10.2% +27.1 per Year

+14.5 per Year

Older Drivers - 65+ Involved 271 5.9% 13.9% 7.6% -11.6% +14.5 per Year

Alcohol Involved (No Drugs) 246 -2.8% 32.2% 8.9% -12.8% +21.3 per Year

Unrestrained Occupants 203 -16.3% 35.9% -2.6% -11.1% +4.9 per Year

+15.6 per Year

Motorcycle Involvement 198 3.5% 20.5% 14.6% -16.3% +15.6 per Year

Pedestrian(s) Injured or Killed 128 21.1% 5.8% 6.1% -14.4% +6.1 per Year

Unlicensed Drivers Involved 89 -4.5% 60.0% 14.7% -12.2% +16.7 per Year

Pedalcycle(s) Injured or Killed 66 -33.3% 81.8% -1.3% -17.7% +3.3 per Year

Inattentive Drivers Involved 55 29.1% 11.3% 1.3% -18.8% +2.9 per Year

Commercial Motor Vehicle Involved 49 49.0% 12.3% -35.4% 22.6% +1.2 per Year

2323

Identify the Key Risks Digging Deeper

23

0.0%

0.0%

7.1%

0.4%

0.4%

5.8%

2.1%

2.5%

4.1%

6.2%

21.1%

4.1%

9.8%

24.6%

17.0%

22.5%

Train-Related

Bicycle

Intersection-Related

Pedestrian

Work zone-Related

Distracted Driving-Related

Drowsy Driving

ATV Involved

CMV Involved

Motorcycle Involved

Young Driver Involved

Involved Driver with Invalid License

Older Driver Involved

Occupant Protection

Alcohol- or Drug-Related

Speeding / Aggressive Driving-Related

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.2%

0.7%

1.0%

1.6%

6.7%

8.6%

8.9%

13.8%

14.2%

14.7%

54.9%

59.0%

60.0%

Roadway Departure Serious Injury and Fatality Crashes

Serious Injuries Fatalities

You Have All This Data, Now What?

• Share this information with relevant stakeholders

– State DOT

– Highway Safety Office

– Local/Regional Coalitions

• Establish emphasis areas

• Customize strategies and actions from SHSP or HSP

• Develop strategies and actions using 4E

stakeholder engagement

Less

Resource

Intensive

Additional

Resources

and Time

Review and Customize Strategies from

SHSP or HSP

25

Develop Strategies and Actions

26

Communicating the Safety Message

27

Opportunities to Engage in Behavioral Safety

Implementation Ideas

Support Existing Efforts

29

30

Support

Existing

Efforts

30

3131

Marketing Materials You Can

Use/Customizewww.trafficsafetymarketing.gov

32

Promote Behavioral Safety on Website

Share Information on Behavioral Safety

33

34

Conduct Surveys

35

Use Crash Data Infographics and

Information to Raise Awareness

36

Participate in/Lead a Behavioral

Effort

Participate in/Lead a Behavioral Effort

• Identify bicycle and pedestrian behavioral safety issues

– 4E Committee and Data

• Identify local and state laws that address the issues

• Prioritize the issues

– Online Questionnaire

• Research existing campaigns (state and nation) that exist in the public domain

• Identify a campaign that addressed our concerns – sought permission to co-brand

Resources to Address Behavioral Safety

Funding

Highway Safety Office – NHTSA

Funding

• 402 Funding - State and Community Highway Safety

Program

• 405 - National Priority Safety Programs

– (b) addresses occupant protection,

– (c) is for improving traffic safety information and data systems,

– (d) is for impaired driving and ignition interlock laws

– (e) is for distracted driving,

– (f) is for motorcycle safety,

– (g) is to encourage graduated drivers licensing programs, and

– (h) is for nonmotorized roadway user programs

39

How to Apply

• Review priority areas in HSP

– Impaired, speed, distracted

• Identify overlapping priority areas

• Determine which strategies align

• Attend an annual grant training seminar (January)

• Submit an application/participate in an application

(January/February)

40

Resources to Address Behavioral Safety

Conclusion

42

Finding Solutions to the Behavioral

Issues

Bring data analysis to the table

Bring together 4E stakeholders to discuss safety issues

Identify strategies and actions to address behavioral issues in your planning area

Find funding to implement behavioral programs

Lead or actively participate in initiatives/programs to address behavioral safety

Work with data analyzed by others

Join an existing group or participate in meetings

Adopt or follow existing strategies and actions

Learn about funding opportunities

Lend support to existing behavioral initiatives

High Level of EffortLow Level of Effort

Key Takeaways

• What are your next steps?

Contact Information

If you have any questions related to this presentation,

please contact the instructors at:

NWaldheim@camsys.com

To learn more about the National Center for Rural Road

Safety :

http://ruralsafetycenter.org/about-our-center/history-of-the-

safety-center/

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