The Metropolitan Houston Traffic Safety Program
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Transcript of The Metropolitan Houston Traffic Safety Program
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The Metropolitan Houston Traffic Safety ProgramHouston-Galveston Area CouncilHouston, TX
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1998-2000: Houston region - 243,616 serious crashes inc. 1,793 fatalities and 274,926 persons injured
The region accounted for:
26% of all statewide crashes27% of all statewide injury crashes 17% of all statewide fatal crashes
The region has 22% of the statewide populationand, approximately, 21% of the statewide VMT
Likelihood of a fatal or injury crash was: 36% higher than statewide average145% higher than national average
Seriousness of Problem
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Purpose of the ProgramBuild a traffic safety program that can reduce crashesMap the crashesIdentify hazardous locations and areaConduct the necessary preliminary engineeringImplement roadway improvementsIdentify funding sourcesLeverage local investment with State and Federal fundsSupport other safety effortsEnforcementEducationSafety partnerships
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Program Implemented Through Tasks
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Task: Build a GIS-based Crash Information SystemObtained crash data for entire system State roads Local roads
Obtain data on an annual basis
Developed geo-referencing methodology
Added supplementary data sets (VMT)
Developed crash analysis tools
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Task: Identify Conditions Affecting Crashes Improper driving behavior
High-risk population
High-risk cities & counties
High crash roadways and intersections (hot spots)
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High-risk Behaviors: 1998-2000RegionU.S.*Speeding39%13% Failing to yield20%19% Failing to stop11% 9% Running a red light 8% 5% DUI 7% 7%(However, involved in 37% of fatal crashes/39% nationally) Following too close 3% 3% Improper turn 2% 2%
* National Safety Council. U.S. average for 1999. Fatal and injury crashes only
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High-risk PopulationsRegionU.S.* Teenagers21%16%(9% of driving age population/5% nationally17% in fatal crashes /14% nationally19% in incapacitating injury crashes)
Elderly (65+) 8%8%(9% of driving age population/13% nationally11% in fatal crashes/13% nationally9% in incapacitating injury crashes)
Male drivers79% -(Compared to 58% for females1.7 times more likely to be in fatal crash/1.4 nationally)
Pickup truck drivers31%31%(More likely to be involved in DUI crash)
* National Safety Council. U.S. average for 1999. All crashes.
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City Crash Risk(Crashes Per 100 Million VMT)CityCrash riskGalveston 337Baytown 334Rosenberg 320Pasadena 290Conroe 247Houston 231Texas City 211
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Task: Conduct Safety Studies Identify hazardous locations
Partner with local government, TxDOT
Conduct engineering study
Make mitigation recommendations
Mitigate hot spot
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Have identified areas that are hazardous for pedestrians and bicyclists (hot spots)
Information is used for bike/ped planning
Examine sidewalk, traffic control and pedestrianflow dynamics to identify mitigation measures
Task: Improve Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
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Truck crashes a major problem
27% of the States truck crashes
Information provided on location of crashes
Support Houston Police Departmentstruck weighing efforts
TxDOT has implemented no truck inleft lane policies on several freewaysTask: Improve Truck Safety
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Have identified 344 major crash hot spots(78+ crashes between 1998-2000)
Estimating benefits and costs of mitigating
Programming into RTPTask: Develop Strategic Safety Plan
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Costs and Benefits of Hot Spot Mitigation (Preliminary)AnnualNumber Estimated EstimatedType of Facility Numberof Crashes Cost to Mitigate Annual Benefit Freeway 150 7,766 $75 million$58 millionIntersection betweenfreeway & arterial road 70 3,756 $35 million$28 millionArterial road 124 4,930 $62 million$37 million
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Other Safety Activities Safety servicesTrain local planners in safety planningSafety courses for judges, Mayors, etc.Provide safety materials for schools
Safety partnershipsGovernmental (TxDOT, DPS, local jurisdictions)Private, non-profit (AAA, insurance, associations)Community groups
Promoting good design principlesReview project designs for safetyEncourage constituents to include safety in design