1. 1-1 LOW COST SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS Practitioner Workshop Introduction – Session #1

2. 1-2 Logistics Health and safety (emergency exits, procedures for evacuation, etc.) Please turn off cell phones/Pagers Breaks (when, restrooms, telephones) Lunch arrangements Other site-specific issues

3. 1-3 Course Instructors Name, Company, e-mail address, phone #

4. 1-4 Course Instructors Fred Ranck, Resource Center, FHWA “fred.ranck@fhwa.dot.gov”

5. 1-5 Self Introductions Who you are Who you work for and what you do What experience you have with safety improvements What you want to get out of the course

6. 1-6 This is a workshop! Expect to do some work! Ask your questions as you have them, Please! “Parking Lot” for Questions to be addressed later in workshop Work problems and exercises (based on actual case studies) Facilitated questioning and discussions Discussion

7. 1-7 Introduction Learning Outcomes: 1.Review National Traffic Crash Experience 2.Relate Substantive Safety Approach to Nominal Safety Applications

8. 1-8 Introduction Traffic Safety Facts 2003:  43,220 Deaths, up 0.9% all-time high since 1990  2,891,000 Injuries, down 1.2%  6.305 million police reported crashes  A crash every 5 seconds  An injury every 10 seconds  A fatality every 13 minutes

9. 1-9 Introduction 2002 & 2003 Highway Statistics: Exposure Measure Year % Change 20022003 Vehicle Miles Traveled 2,855,756M2,879,894M*+0.8% Registered Vehicles 225,684,815230,199,000**+2.0% Population***287,973,924290,809,777+1.0%

10. 1-10 Introduction 2003 Highway Traffic Fatal & Injury Rates: Role Year % Change 20022003 Occupants2,735,0002,708,000-1.0% Drivers1,863,0001,848,000-0.8% Passengers873,000859,000-1.6% Motorcyclists65,00064,000-1.5% Non-Occupants126,000119,000-5.6% Pedestrians71,00068,000-4.2% Pedalcyclists48,00044,000-8.3% Other*7,0008,000+14% TOTAL2,926,0002,891,000-1.2%

11. 1-11 Introduction 2002 Highway Traffic Fatalities Trend

12. 1-12 Introduction Cost of All Crashes in U.S. (Year 2003)  $231 Billion  $820 (~₤500 for every person in the U.S.)  2.3% of the GDP

13. 1-13 Introduction U.S. Highway System Among World’s Safest –Fatality Rate has decreased or remained same (as Traffic is Increasing) –But over 42,000 Deaths & 2,920,000 Injuries per Year US DOT Safety Goals (FHWA, NHTSA, & FMCSA) –20% Reduction in Highway deaths & injuries by 2008 –50% Reduction in Large-Vehicle-Related deaths & injuries

14. 1-14 Introduction Substantive Safety Varies Significantly by Type of Road, Location and Other Factors

15. 1-15 Introduction Rural Road Safety by The Numbers   Fatality Rate is 2.5 times that for Urban Roads.  40 % of Travel and 60% of Fatalities

16. 1-16 Introduction Safety “Safer”- a relative term – an absolute

17. 1-17 Link Between Standards and Safety  How can we make highways sufficiently safe?  Does applying standards achieve it?  How about cost-benefit?  What can are the countermeasures that highway professionals can use? STANDARDS DESIGN CRASHES

18. 1-18 Introduction – Exercise I  Identify some of the Low Cost Safety Measure that you are aware of?  Let’s list them Discussion

19. 1-19 Introduction – Exercise I Low Cost Safety Improvements: Discussion  ___________________________

20. 1-20 Introduction  What is “low cost” ? –Agency definition –Funding source (capital program, 3R, or Operation and Maintenance budget) –Developer funded  No “official” definition in this course –One agency’s “low cost” is another agency’s “too expensive” ! –Generally < $10,000

21. 1-21 Is this road ‘less safe’ or ‘more safe’? – Exercise II

22. 1-22 Introduction – Exercise II  What are some Low Cost Safety Measures (i.e., Traffic Control Devices, shoulder treatments, lighting….) that could make this road safer?  Let’s list them Discussion

23. 1-23 Introduction – Exercise II  List Low Cost Safety Measures (i.e., Traffic Control Devices, shoulder rumble, lighting….) that could make this road safer?  ___________________________________________

24. 1-24 Is this road ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’? – Exercise II  Lighting  Advance Warning Signs  Delineators  Chevrons  Shoulder Rumble Strip Which of these low cost measures are required (i.e., nominal requirement)?

25. 1-25 Substantive and Nominal Safety Nominal Safety is examined in reference to compliance with standards, warrants, guidelines and sanctioned design procedures Substantive Safety is the actual crash frequency and severity for a highway or roadway

26. 1-26 Nominal Safety Nominal Safety – Advance Warning Sign + Advisory Speed Plaque

27. 1-27 Substantive and Nominal Safety Nominal Safety Yes No Complies ? Yes Defines users legal behaviour Provides for special user needs Protects professionals from claims of legal liability 1 st Step

28. 1-28 Nominal Safety Nominal Safety – Advance Warning Sign + Advisory Speed Plaque 1 st Step  Speed limit = 45 mph  Traffic Volume = 2,000  - Expect 2 crashes per year at this traffic volume  What if this curve experienced 7 crashes in the past two years with the Advance Warning Sign?

29. 1-29 Nominal and Substantive Safety Nominal Safety – Advance Warning Sign + Advisory Speed Plaque 1 st Step2 nd Step Advance Warning Sign + Advisory Speed + Chevrons = “Safer” = Substantive Safety

30. 1-30 Introduction Example: Nominal Safety – Advance Warning Sign –Conventional Road Size +Oversize +Double-Up +Yellow Flashers = 35% + 25% reduction in Crashes = Substantive Safety 1 st Step2 nd Step

31. 1-31 Introduction  New approach to Geometric Design and Application of Traffic Control Devices and to Safety Improvements is Substantive Safety.  Why? Discussion

32. 1-32 Nominal Safety Legal Liability and Substantive Safety Approach: 1.“Going” beyond the nominal requirements of the Green Book/MUTCD demonstrates clear satisfaction of Nominal requirements 2. Juries and Judges look favorably upon actions by highway agencies which go beyond minimums

33. 1-33 New & Proven Technologies Introduction

34. 1-34 AASHTO Strategic Safety Plan Guidebooks: Introduction Website for NCHRP Report 500 Guidebooks is: http://www4.trb.org/trb/crp.nsf/All+Projects/ NCHRP+17-18(3)

35. 1-35 Introduction Countermeasures EFFECTS  Proven  Tried  Experimental Discussion Experimental Proven Tried

36. 1-36 Introduction Example: Nominal Safety – Advance Warning Sign – Conventional Road Size + Chevrons = 49% reduction in Crashes = Substantive Safety CRF = -22% -49 % Tried

37. 1-37 New & Proven Technologies Introduction Specific Crash Modification Factors/ Crash Reduction Factors are in the Notebook Appendix

38. 1-38 Key Safety Principles and Design http://www.knowledgesys.com/applications/rim-app.html  No highway is safe, only safer or less so  We know how to make highways safer  Law of diminishing marginal returns applies  Money should be spent effectively

39. 1-39 Introduction Review Questions:  Nominal Safety compliance with standards, warrants, guidelines and sanctioned design procedures  Substantive Safety the expected crash frequency and severity for a highway or roadway

40. 1-40 Introduction Review Questions:  What is the relationship of compliance with the Green Book and the MUTCD to Nominal Safety? Apply low cost safety improvements beyond the nominal (minimal) requirements  How can you reduce crashes where there is a Substantive Safety problem? Ordinarily can be expected to result in nominal safety performance

41. 1-41 Introduction Learning Outcomes: 1.Reviewed National Traffic Crash Experience 2.Related Substantive Safety Approach to Nominal Safety Applications

42. 1-42 Questions? Introduction