Summary from: Roadway Safety Data Program | North Carolina’s State-Specific CMFs | FHWA-SA-16-107

Background

North Carolina is one of a small number of States that have actively pursued developing their own crash modification factor (CMF) “short list” for countermeasures that are deployed throughout the State. It is important that all safety units across North Carolina use the same CMF value for a particular countermeasure in their benefit-cost analyses so that each safety unit has a level playing field when competing for safety dollars.

North Carolina’s Department of Transportation (NCDOT) wanted to develop a list of CMFs to use in benefit-cost analyses across the State. To develop the CMF list, NCDOT first reviewed studies found online. Later, they reviewed the available CMFs in the CMF Clearinghouse. The primary benefit that NCDOT has realized from conducting evaluations of countermeasures that previously had subjective CMF values is that the agency does not continue to implement countermeasures that have little to no quantifiable crash benefit. This is especially helpful with project selection processes and makes better use of safety dollars.

Read the Case Study North Carolina’s State-Specific CMFs for more detailed information.