Meg MooreMeg MooreTraffic Engineering Section Director Traffic Engineering Section Director

Traffic Operations DivisionTraffic Operations DivisionTexas Department of TransportationTexas Department of Transportation

BackgroundBackground

• The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) requires Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) requires each state to develop and implement a Strategic each state to develop and implement a Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP).Highway Safety Plan (SHSP).

• The purpose of the SHSP is to identify key safety needs The purpose of the SHSP is to identify key safety needs and guide investment decisions to achieve significant and guide investment decisions to achieve significant reductions in highway fatalities and serious injuries on all reductions in highway fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads.public roads.

• The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is leading the effort to develop the State’s safety plan.leading the effort to develop the State’s safety plan.

What is a SHSP?What is a SHSP? State’s vision/goal for reducing the State’s vision/goal for reducing the

number of fatal and severe injuries.number of fatal and severe injuries. Identifies the key strategies that when Identifies the key strategies that when

implemented will be most effective at implemented will be most effective at achieving the goal.achieving the goal.

A guide for safety investments.A guide for safety investments.

Strategic Highway Safety Strategic Highway Safety is a Processis a Process

Leadership initiativeLeadership initiative Identify agency championsIdentify agency champions Gather dataGather data Analyze dataAnalyze data Establish a working groupEstablish a working group Bring safety partners togetherBring safety partners together Adopt a strategic goalAdopt a strategic goal

Strategic Highway Safety Strategic Highway Safety is a Processis a Process

Identify key emphasis areasIdentify key emphasis areas Set performance based goalsSet performance based goals Identify strategies and countermeasuresIdentify strategies and countermeasures Determine priorities for implementationDetermine priorities for implementation Write the SHSP planWrite the SHSP plan Implement the planImplement the plan Gather feedback, evaluate, repeatGather feedback, evaluate, repeat

Texas SHSP MissionTexas SHSP Mission

Reduce the human and societal costs of Reduce the human and societal costs of highway traffic crashes, deaths, and highway traffic crashes, deaths, and injuries by most effectively implementing injuries by most effectively implementing the “4 E’s” of traffic safety:the “4 E’s” of traffic safety:

• eengineering improvementsngineering improvements• traffic law traffic law eenforcementnforcement• public public eeducation andducation and• eemergency medical services (EMS). mergency medical services (EMS).

Overall State GoalOverall State Goal

Texas Rates for 2001Texas Rates for 2001

1.771.77 Fatalities per 100M VMTFatalities per 100M VMT

49.8749.87 Serious Injuries per 100M VMTSerious Injuries per 100M VMT

Texas Goal by 2010Texas Goal by 2010

1.501.50 Fatalities per 100M VMTFatalities per 100M VMT

41.2041.20 Serious Injuries per 100M VMTSerious Injuries per 100M VMT

Emphasis AreasEmphasis Areas

Serious Crash TypesSerious Crash Types• Run-Off the RoadRun-Off the Road• Head OnHead On• IntersectionIntersection• PedestrianPedestrian

High Risk DriversHigh Risk Drivers• Driving Under the Influence (DUI)Driving Under the Influence (DUI)• Speeding (Over limit and unsafe speed)Speeding (Over limit and unsafe speed)• Occupant ProtectionOccupant Protection

Emphasis AreasEmphasis Areas

Areas of ConcernAreas of Concern• MotorcyclesMotorcycles• BicyclistsBicyclists• Older DriversOlder Drivers• Aggressive DriversAggressive Drivers• Commercial Motor VehiclesCommercial Motor Vehicles• Teen DriversTeen Drivers• Work ZonesWork Zones• Rail/Highway SafetyRail/Highway Safety• Cell Phone UsageCell Phone Usage• Public and Policy Maker AwarenessPublic and Policy Maker Awareness• Enhanced Wireless 911 Reporting SystemEnhanced Wireless 911 Reporting System

Emphasis Area:Emphasis Area: Run-Off the Road Run-Off the Road CrashesCrashes

Engineering RecommendationsEngineering Recommendations

Increase the use of paved shoulders on FM Increase the use of paved shoulders on FM roadsroads

Continue to install shoulder and centerline Continue to install shoulder and centerline rumble stripsrumble strips

Continue to install median barriersContinue to install median barriers Etc.Etc.

Emphasis Area:Emphasis Area: Run-Off the Road Run-Off the Road CrashesCrashes

Education RecommendationEducation Recommendation Ensure that driver education curriculums Ensure that driver education curriculums

include information concerning curves, curve include information concerning curves, curve warnings and behaviors that lead to ROR warnings and behaviors that lead to ROR crashes.crashes.

Enforcement RecommendationEnforcement Recommendation Increase DUI and speed enforcement as a Increase DUI and speed enforcement as a

means of reducing ROR crashes.means of reducing ROR crashes.

ImplementationImplementation

Identify responsibility and resources Identify responsibility and resources necessary for countermeasure necessary for countermeasure implementation.implementation.

Target identified emphasis areas with Target identified emphasis areas with existing resources – Highway Safety existing resources – Highway Safety Improvement Program, Traffic Safety Improvement Program, Traffic Safety Grants, Safe Routes to School Program, Grants, Safe Routes to School Program, etc.etc.

Working Together…..Working Together…..

Motor Carrier

State DOT

MPOs

LawEnforcement

MajorModes

Contractors

Chapter 5

CCOMMON OMMON GGOALOAL

SSAFETYAFETY

DMV

GHSRLocals

4E’s

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

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