SafetyAnalyst Overview Presentation Michael S. Griffith FHWA June 2003

2 Creative Destruction “The stock market, like the economy, follows an incessant path of creative destruction. New technology, processes, and products continually supplant the old and tired in a capitalist system. New market leaders always challenge the old guard.” (Investor’s Business Daily, June 2, 2003)

3 What is SafetyAnalyst? Vision Statement Provide state-of-the-art analytical tools for use in the decision making process to identify and manage a systemwide program of site-specific improvements to enhance highway safety by cost- effective means

4 Why is SafetyAnalyst Being Developed? Both FHWA and participating state highway agencies have perceived a need to improve the analytical tools available to highway agencies for safety management of the highway system

5 Participating States

6 Who is Developing SafetyAnalyst? Federal Highway Administration Technical Working Group, 13 participating states Midwest Research Institute and subcontractors ITT Industries, Software development contractor

7 Tools for Safety Management To assist agencies in making better decisions about: Where to make highway safety improvements Determining what improvements to make Evaluating the effectiveness of implemented safety improvements

8 Scope Addresses site-specific improvements based on site-specific needs, not general programs like vehicle design improvements, occupant restraints, etc. Uses state-of-the-art technology to advance the state of the practice Should be comprehensive – including all stages of the safety management process

9 What Tools will be Available in SafetyAnalyst? Network screening to identify sites with promise for safety improvement Diagnosis of safety concerns Selection of countermeasures Economic appraisal of countermeasures Priority ranking of countermeasures Evaluation of implemented projects

10 Target Audience Professionals involved in deciding: Where to make highway safety improvements Determining what improvements to make Evaluating the effectiveness of implemented safety improvements

11 Modules 6 tools are incorporated in 4 modules Module #1 – Network screening Module #2 – Diagnosis and countermeasure selection Module #3 – Economic appraisal and priority ranking Module #4 - Evaluation

12 Network Screening to Identify Sites with Promise Use expected safety performance and actual accident history to review sites Identify SITES WITH PROMISE – sites that have promise for reducing accidents in a cost-effective manner Review entire roadway system or selected parts – roadway segments, intersections, ramps, railroad grade crossings, etc.

13 Diagnose Safety Concerns at Selected Sites Consider both sites with promise identified by network screening tool and from other sources Identify accident patterns Investigate causal factors Consider site conditions and safety performance from engineering and human factors viewpoints Assess whether a potentially correctable safety concern exists

14 Select Appropriate Countermeasures Present lists of countermeasures that are potentially appropriate for identified accident patterns and safety concerns Final selection made by user Where appropriate, user may select: –combination of countermeasures –alternative countermeasures for economic appraisal and priority ranking

15 Economic Appraisal of Candidate Improvements Assess expected project benefits Assess expected project costs Display results Provide economic analysis and ranking compatible with HSIP requirements

16 Priority Ranking of Candidate Improvements Ranking by economic appraisal results: –Cost effectiveness ($/accident reduced) –Benefit-cost ratio (B/C) –Net present benefits (B – C) Project selection to maximize safety benefits within a budget constraint –Integer programming –Dynamic programming –Incremental B/C ratio

17 Evaluation Use available data to estimate the safety effect of projects implemented at specific sites Before-after evaluations using robust statistical techniques Primary MOE – percentage reduction in accidents

18 How Will Safety Analyst Be Implemented? SafetyAnalyst will be implemented as a set of integrated software tools to perform key steps in the safety management process SafetyAnalyst will be made available to highway agencies by FHWA SafetyAnalyst will be maintained as the state of knowledge advances

19 What Has Been Accomplished Already? Project began: April 2001 Meetings with TWG Work plan and Marketing plan White Papers with technical approaches to modules Training course is being revised

20 What Is the Planned Schedule? “New Approaches to Highway Safety Analysis“ training course – Fall 2003 Release interim tools – 2004 Release final tools – 2006

21 SafetyAnalyst Website