2. Meg Moore Traffic Engineering Section Director Traffic Operations Division Texas Department of Transportation

3. Background The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) requires each state to develop and implement a Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP).The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) requires each state to develop and implement a Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). The purpose of the SHSP is to identify key safety needs and guide investment decisions to achieve significant reductions in highway fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads.The purpose of the SHSP is to identify key safety needs and guide investment decisions to achieve significant reductions in highway fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is leading the effort to develop the State’s safety plan.The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is leading the effort to develop the State’s safety plan.

4. What is a SHSP?  State’s vision/goal for reducing the number of fatal and severe injuries.  Identifies the key strategies that when implemented will be most effective at achieving the goal.  A guide for safety investments.

5. Strategic Highway Safety is a Process  Leadership initiative  Identify agency champions  Gather data  Analyze data  Establish a working group  Bring safety partners together  Adopt a strategic goal

6. Strategic Highway Safety is a Process  Identify key emphasis areas  Set performance based goals  Identify strategies and countermeasures  Determine priorities for implementation  Write the SHSP plan  Implement the plan  Gather feedback, evaluate, repeat

7. Texas SHSP Mission Reduce the human and societal costs of highway traffic crashes, deaths, and injuries by most effectively implementing the “4 E’s” of traffic safety: engineering improvements engineering improvements traffic law enforcement traffic law enforcement public education and public education and emergency medical services (EMS). emergency medical services (EMS).

8. Overall State Goal Texas Rates for 2001 1.77Fatalities per 100M VMT 49.87 Serious Injuries per 100M VMT Texas Goal by 2010 1.50 Fatalities per 100M VMT 41.20 Serious Injuries per 100M VMT

9. Emphasis Areas  Serious Crash Types Run-Off the RoadRun-Off the Road Head OnHead On IntersectionIntersection PedestrianPedestrian  High Risk Drivers Driving Under the Influence (DUI)Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Speeding (Over limit and unsafe speed)Speeding (Over limit and unsafe speed) Occupant ProtectionOccupant Protection

10. Emphasis Areas  Areas of Concern MotorcyclesMotorcycles BicyclistsBicyclists Older DriversOlder Drivers Aggressive DriversAggressive Drivers Commercial Motor VehiclesCommercial Motor Vehicles Teen DriversTeen Drivers Work ZonesWork Zones Rail/Highway SafetyRail/Highway Safety Cell Phone UsageCell Phone Usage Public and Policy Maker AwarenessPublic and Policy Maker Awareness Enhanced Wireless 911 Reporting SystemEnhanced Wireless 911 Reporting System

11. Emphasis Area: Run-Off the Road Crashes  Engineering Recommendations  Increase the use of paved shoulders on FM roads  Continue to install shoulder and centerline rumble strips  Continue to install median barriers  Etc.

12. Emphasis Area: Run-Off the Road Crashes  Education Recommendation  Ensure that driver education curriculums include information concerning curves, curve warnings and behaviors that lead to ROR crashes.  Enforcement Recommendation  Increase DUI and speed enforcement as a means of reducing ROR crashes.

13. Implementation  Identify responsibility and resources necessary for countermeasure implementation.  Target identified emphasis areas with existing resources – Highway Safety Improvement Program, Traffic Safety Grants, Safe Routes to School Program, etc.

14. Working Together….. Motor Carrier State DOT MPOs Law Enforcement Major Modes Contractors Chapter 5 C OMMON G OAL S AFETY DMV GHSR Locals 4E’s

15. QUESTIONS? http://www.dot.state.tx.us/publications/traffic.htm