Meeting the AASHTO Safety Goal Daniel L. Carter, PE UNC Highway Safety Research Center AASHTO Safety Mgmt Subcommittee Meeting September 2, 2009

AASHTO Safety Goal In 2003, safety goal was 1.0 fatalities per 100 million VMT Revised in 2008 to reduce fatalities by 1000 per year, moving toward halving fatalities over the next two decades. Strategic Highway Safety Plan addresses the areas affecting these fatalities

National Trend of Highway Fatalities

National Trend of Fatality Rate

National Trend of VMT

Preliminary Data for ,313 fatalities (down 3,746 from 2007) 1.28 fatalities per 100 million VMT (down from 1.36 in 2007)

SHSP Emphasis Areas AASHTO SHSP outlines 22 emphasis areas People – E.g., curbing aggressive driving, keeping drivers alert Infrastructure – E.g., keeping vehicles on the roadway, improving intersections Other – E.g., safety information, emergency medical services

Emphasis Area Fatalities 2004 Fatalities 2007Change Young drivers Unlicensed drivers Older drivers Aggressive driving Alcohol related Passenger restraint Pedestrian Bicycle Motorcycle Large truck Train Running off the roadway Intersection Head-on and cross median Work zones

State SHSP Review Reviewed 51 SHSPs (all states and D.C.) Noted which emphasis areas were addressed often and which areas were addressed rarely

State SHSP Review Emphasis areas addressed in most SHSPs  young drivers (41)  aggressive driving (41)  impaired driving (46)  occupant restraint (47)  keeping vehicles on the roadway (45)  intersections (42)

State SHSP Review Emphasis areas addressed in most SHSPs  young drivers (41)  aggressive driving (41)  impaired driving (46)  occupant restraint (47)  keeping vehicles on the roadway (45)  intersections (42)

State SHSP Review Emphasis areas addressed in few SHSPs  driver licensing (12)  keeping drivers alert (17)  driver safety awareness (14)  in-vehicle safety technologies (1)  vehicle-train safety (12)  head-on and cross median crashes (14)

State SHSP Review Emphasis areas addressed in few SHSPs  driver licensing (12)  keeping drivers alert (17)  driver safety awareness (14)  in-vehicle safety technologies (1)  vehicle-train safety (12)  head-on and cross median crashes (14)

Area #5 – Impaired Driving Alcohol-related fatalities have remained at a constant level in recent years Approximately 13,000 fatalities per year, or 30% of all highway fatalities Most states and agencies focused on:  Enforcement  Public awareness

Area #5 – Impaired Driving Some states moving toward stricter use of alcohol ignition interlocks Required for some DWI offenders in most states… However, only 8 states require them for all offenders In 2007, only 10% of eligible offenders had them installed on their vehicles

Area #5 – Impaired Driving Research shows that ignition interlocks prevent half of offenders from re- offending 30% of drivers in fatal alcohol related crashes are re-offenders Strict use of alcohol ignition interlock could prevent these crashes and save up to 1950 lives

Area #15 – Keeping Vehicles on the Roadway Run-off-road fatalities have remained at a constant level in recent years Approximately 9,400 fatalities per year, or 22% of all highway fatalities

Area #15 – Keeping Vehicles on the Roadway Examples of State initiatives in SHSPs:  Colorado: hot spots; speed reduction  D.C.: surface treatments; rumble strips  Idaho: ITS speed signs; delineation treatments  New Hampshire: rumble strips; remove trees  New York: road safety audits; widen shoulders  Missouri: statewide program for rumble strips and improved delineation

Area #15 – Keeping Vehicles on the Roadway What benefit could be achieved through more edgeline/shoulder rumble strips? Approximately 7000 fatalities per year occurring on two-lane rural roads from single vehicle run-off-road crashes Research shows potential for 29% reduction due to rumble strips Potential for 2000 lives per year to be saved by having rumble strips on all two-lane rural roads

Looking toward the future Fatalities decreasing 600 per year ( )  Straight line estimate = 20,500 fatalities/year in 2042 Fatality rate decreasing 2% per year  Straight line estimate = 1.0 in 2020

Looking toward the future Unlicensed drivers fatalities on the rise, and the area is getting little attention nationwide in SHSPs Motorcycle fatalities on the rise  Only 21 states require helmets for all riders

Looking toward the future Some strategies show promise, but need to be more strictly or more widely implemented to gain full benefit In-vehicle safety technologies emerging (e.g., Electronic Stability Control)

Looking toward the future Some strategies have shown great effectiveness (e.g., GDL) but soon that “fruit will be picked” Progress in fighting highway fatalities is encouraging, but persistence and innovation are needed