1 Brief Biography Jacob K. Ojera P.E. Background: Transplanted Colorado native Transplanted Colorado native Born in Uganda, East Africa Born in Uganda, East Africa Career Highlights: 18 years with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) 18 years with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) 16 years of roadway design experience with CDOT 16 years of roadway design experience with CDOT Project experiences include NEPA studies, roadway and Interchange design Project experiences include NEPA studies, roadway and Interchange design Currently CADD manager Currently CADD manager Contact Information Jacob Ojera Colorado Department of Transportation, 4201 E. Arkansas, Denver, CO Phone #

2 AASHTO Subcommittee on Design Presentation Successes in Reducing Highway Fatalities in Colorado July 2008 Roadway Fatality Trends:  In 1977, Colorado had 3.8 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel  By the year 2006, the rate declined to 1.10  Since the state’s all-time high of 743 fatalities in 2002, Colorado’s roadway fatalities have been on a downward trend, decreasing by 25.4% in Major causes of Roadway Fatalities:  Impaired driving  Lack of use of occupant protection devices  Young driver behaviors  Aggressive driving Below are graphs showing Colorado’s successes.

3 The majority of Colorado’s Lane Departure fatal crashes occur on rural roadways The majority of Colorado’s Lane Departure fatal crashes occur on rural roadways Colorado has developed a new methodology of identifying locations with potential for accident reduction, and has been applying it to all projects. This includes the selection criteria for our Hazard Elimination (HES) Program. Colorado has developed a new methodology of identifying locations with potential for accident reduction, and has been applying it to all projects. This includes the selection criteria for our Hazard Elimination (HES) Program. HES funds are used at locations with potential for accident reduction, to prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway, for removing roadside obstacles, and to reduce intersection crashes. This methodology is supported by many years of research and papers accepted and published by TRB. This has been a major contributing factor in reducing the severity of crashes in the State. HES funds are used at locations with potential for accident reduction, to prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway, for removing roadside obstacles, and to reduce intersection crashes. This methodology is supported by many years of research and papers accepted and published by TRB. This has been a major contributing factor in reducing the severity of crashes in the State. Above is a graph of the Rural Fatal Crashes in Colorado since This significant reduction is a result of identifying crashes that are susceptible to correction in a cost effective manner and applying the proper fix to that crash type, versus coming up with a countermeasure and applying it around the state. Above is a graph of the Rural Fatal Crashes in Colorado since This significant reduction is a result of identifying crashes that are susceptible to correction in a cost effective manner and applying the proper fix to that crash type, versus coming up with a countermeasure and applying it around the state.

4 Reasons for Successes  Colorado’s Behavioral and Engineering programs  Colorado instituted an Integrated safety plan that focuses on roadway safety through education, enforcement, engineering and emergency services with a goal of: o Reducing traffic crash fatalities and injuries o Further reducing deaths on Colorado’s highways in the future o Defining transportation safety goals and objectives o Specific safety projects and funding for implementation and o Strategies for achieving goals Attached are slides highlighting aspects of Colorado’s safety plan and behavioral programs.

5 Safety and Traffic Engineering Traffic Records (Data Management)

6 Traffic Records Team Rahim Marandi, PETraffic Records Manager/FARS Supervisor David Bourget, PEGrants Project Manager Charles KeepData AnalystFARS Analyst Charles KeepData Analyst/FARS Analyst Rick DavisData AnalystFARS back-up Analyst Rick DavisData Analyst/FARS back-up Analyst Carmen GomezData Analyst Kevin DietrickData Analyst/FARS back-up Analyst Purpose of Traffic Records Unit is to provide data to support the Behavioral and Engineering Programs

7 Fatalities Analysis Reporting System (FARS) U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) National Center for Statistics & Analysis (NCSA) National Center for Statistics & Analysis (NCSA) Department of Transportations, e. g., CDOT Department of Transportations, e. g., CDOT Charles Keep FARS Analyst Kevin Deitrick FARS Back-up Analyst Rahim Marandi FARS Supervisor Colorado FARS Program

8 BAC and Drug Legislation BAC and Drug Legislation Motorcycle Helmet Usage Legislation Motorcycle Helmet Usage Legislation Repeated offenders Repeated offenders Restraint usage laws Restraint usage laws High Speed differential reduction High Speed differential reduction Safety design of cars and light trucks Safety design of cars and light trucks Safety of large trucks on the highway Safety of large trucks on the highway Airbag effectiveness research Airbag effectiveness research Uses of FARS data Safety and Traffic Engineering Traffic Records (Data Management)

9 Where does FARS Data comes from? Police Crash Reports Police Crash Reports State Vehicle Registration Files State Vehicle Registration Files State Driver Licensing Files State Driver Licensing Files State Highway Department Crash Data State Highway Department Crash Data Vital Statistics/Death Certificates Vital Statistics/Death Certificates Coroner/Medical Examiner Reports Coroner/Medical Examiner Reports Hospital Medical Records Hospital Medical Records Emergency Medical Services Reports Emergency Medical Services Reports

10 Impaired Driving and Occupant Protection Safety Programs PEOPLE AND PROGRAMS SAVING LIVES

11 MISSION STATEMENT To reduce the incidence and severity of motor vehicle crashes and the human and economic loss associated with motor vehicle crashes. What We Do What We Do In support of this mission, the units work closely with Colorado communities, law enforcement, and traffic safety experts to design and implement projects to proactively address the state’s emerging and persistent traffic safety challenges.

12 Impaired Driving Program Goals Goal Reduce percentage of alcohol-related fatal crashes 41.2%29.0% Reduce the average Blood Alchol Concerntration (BAC) at arrest Reduce % of drivers age involved in alcohol-related fatal crashes 38.5%36.0% Reduce % of alcohol related fatal crashes of underage drivers (under 21) 12.5%12.0% Reduce the number of motorcycle crashes per 1,000 motorcycle registrations

13 Occupant Protection Program Goals Goal Increase seat belt use in passenger cars 81.6%85% Increase child safety seat use for children (0-4 yrs) 85.5%92% Increase safety belt use by children (5- 15 yrs) 69.7%80% Increase safety belt use in rural counties %

14 Program Funding CDOT applies for and receives Federal funding from National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA) for: 410 funding-Alcohol-Impaired Driving 410 funding-Alcohol-Impaired Driving 2010 funding-Motorcycle Safety 2010 funding-Motorcycle Safety 1906 funding-Prevent Racial Profiling 1906 funding-Prevent Racial Profiling 408 funding-Data Improvement 408 funding-Data Improvement 402 funding-Highway Safety Programs 402 funding-Highway Safety Programs CDOT receives State funds by statute for: LEAF-Law Enforcement Assistance Fund LEAF-Law Enforcement Assistance Fund MOST-Motorcycle Operator Safety Training MOST-Motorcycle Operator Safety Training

15 Training and Technical Assistance Programs Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (DUI roadsides) Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (DUI roadsides) Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Program Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Program National DRE/Impaired Driving Conference National DRE/Impaired Driving Conference Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Law Enforcement Coordinator Law Enforcement Coordinator Child Passenger Safety Technician Certification Child Passenger Safety Technician Certification

16 Young Drivers & Education Underage Drinking Prevention Project Underage Drinking Prevention Project MADD MADD Summit Prevention Alliance Summit Prevention Alliance Motorcycle Operator Safety Training Motorcycle Operator Safety Training ABATE Trike, Motorcycle PR campaign ABATE Trike, Motorcycle PR campaign DUI Simulator DUI Simulator Prohibit Racial Profiling Prohibit Racial Profiling

17 Occupant Protection Programs Occupant Protection Programs Occupant Protection-16 projects Occupant Protection-16 projects Safe Communities-3 projects Safe Communities-3 projects Pedestrian and Bicycles-3 projects Pedestrian and Bicycles-3 projects Memorial Sign Program Memorial Sign Program Occupant Protection Occupant Protection Child Passenger Safety and Outreach Child Passenger Safety and Outreach Minority and Rural Focused Programs Minority and Rural Focused Programs Occupant Protection Enforcement-Click it or Ticket Occupant Protection Enforcement-Click it or Ticket Annual Seat Belt Survey Annual Seat Belt Survey Teen Traffic Safety Teen Traffic Safety

18 Colorado Fatalities Total Fatalities: Alcohol Related % Alcohol Related % Alcohol Related % Alcohol Related % Alcohol Related % Alcohol Related % Alcohol Related % Alcohol Related % Motorcycle Total Fatalities (As of 5/01/08) (As of 5/01/08)

19 Impaired Driving Programs : Glenn Davis Occupant Protection Programs : Carol Gould Capt. Bruce Sheetz – Law Enforcement Coordinator:

20 Colorado of Transportation "Click It or Ticket" Campaign and Teen Outreach No other safety program has the same “bottom line” potential for reducing traffic deaths and injuries due to lack of safety belt usage.

21 What is “Click It or Ticket”? NHTSA developed the program. NHTSA developed the program. An intensive and short duration Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP) with the objective to raise seat belt use statewide An intensive and short duration Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP) with the objective to raise seat belt use statewide Concerted enforcement of secondary seat belt laws through speeding and hazardous driving contacts Concerted enforcement of secondary seat belt laws through speeding and hazardous driving contacts Intense public information campaign running prior to and concurrently with the enforcement “blitz” Intense public information campaign running prior to and concurrently with the enforcement “blitz” sTEPs are a proven method to change motorists’ behavior and do it quickly sTEPs are a proven method to change motorists’ behavior and do it quickly

22 Colorado “Click It or Ticket” Team Effort CDOT Safety and Traffic Engineering Branch and Public Relations Office CDOT Safety and Traffic Engineering Branch and Public Relations Office Colorado State Patrol Colorado State Patrol Local law enforcement agencies Local law enforcement agencies Local traffic safety coalitions Local traffic safety coalitions National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

23 Program Improvement Ideas Begin outreach to teens earlier. Begin outreach to teens earlier. Designate coalition representative to coordinate earned media activities. Designate coalition representative to coordinate earned media activities. Help us find safety belt survivors. Help us find safety belt survivors. Law enforcement schedules. Law enforcement schedules. Incorporate CIOT activities/messaging into other non- traffic safety community events. Incorporate CIOT activities/messaging into other non- traffic safety community events.

24 “Click It or Ticket” Campaign Goals Save lives and reduce injuries in traffic crashes by creating an enforcement perception that will influence part-time and non-belt users to buckle up Save lives and reduce injuries in traffic crashes by creating an enforcement perception that will influence part-time and non-belt users to buckle up Partner and interact with safety groups and coalitions to gain citizen support and political permission Partner and interact with safety groups and coalitions to gain citizen support and political permission Increase statewide seat belt use to 82.5% by 2007 and to 85.0% by 2010 Increase statewide seat belt use to 82.5% by 2007 and to 85.0% by 2010