Louisiana Hires Law Enforcement Expert to Improve Data Collection among Law Enforcement Agencies

Original publication: HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series, Safety Data Collection, Analysis, and Sharing; FHWA-SA-11-02; 2011(PDF, 1.6MB)

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LDOTD) is responsible for collecting motor vehicle crash data for the entire State of Louisiana, as well as maintaining the state crash database. This equates to about 165,000 crash reports a year from state, parish, and local law enforcement agencies. The accuracy and timeliness of this data are critical in prioritizing safety improvements for roadways and intersections. LDOTD has the responsibility to ensure prioritization of limited highway safety funds is based on the ability to reduce the most crashes, injuries, and fatalities relative to the initial construction cost and any associated increase in maintenance costs. LDOTD analyzes the entire state roadway system on a yearly basis and compiles a list of locations exceeding a threshold for crashes, injuries, and fatalities to allocate highway safety funds where the greatest safety benefit can be achieved.

LDOTD found incorrect and incomplete coding of the crash reports by law enforcement officers affected the quality and accuracy of the crash data. In addition, the Legislature designated LDOTD as the agency responsible for implementing and coordinating a Statewide Incident Management Program, which requires widespread statewide coordination between LDOTD, law enforcement agencies, and emergency response personnel. In 2008, the agency hired a Law Enforcement Expert (LEE) to help address data deficiencies and meet the new Legislative requirement. Given the responsibilities of the position and because the LEE would reach out to a wide variety of law enforcement officers, a decision was made to hire a person with significant leadership experience with the state police, i.e., a Captain or above.

The LEE works statewide and reviews crash reports to identify trends or potential issues with crash report completion by the various jurisdictions. For example, the LEE might identify a disproportionately high number of crashes with the contributing factor marked as “failure to control” within a particular agency. When this type of situation arises, the LEE meets with the agency to identify any underlying reasons for the trend in reporting (e.g., training, edit checks, etc.). If there are issues, the LEE helps train the officers on proper procedures. Additional LEE responsibilities directly related to improving the quality and accuracy of crash data include:

• Develop a student and train-the-trainer course in crash investigation to familiarize law enforcement personnel with the concepts and techniques of crash reconstruction.
• Schedule classes and train law enforcement academy instructors in crash investigation and reconstruction concepts and techniques (train-the-trainer course).
• Schedule classes and train students in crash investigation and in reconstruction concepts and techniques.
• Provide crash investigation and reconstruction services to the Highway Safety Section for the LDOTD Tort Reduction Program.
• Provide crash investigation and reconstruction expertise to the nine LDOTD Districts during their investigation of crash locations.
• Serve as a member on the statewide Traffic Records Coordinating Committee (TRCC) and the Sub-committee responsible for revising the State crash report to adhere to required Model Uniform Crash Criteria (MUCC).

The LEE also assists with Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) implementation at both the local and regional level. Working with LDOTD and Louisiana State University, the LEE provides the SHSP regional coalitions with the data they need to develop and implement regional action plans, strategies, and performance measures.

Key Accomplishments

• LDOTD is among the first DOTs to hire a Law Enforcement Expert (LEE) dedicated to working with law enforcement agencies on improving crash data collection.
• Instituted a direct link between LDOTD (both headquarters and District offices) and law enforcement agencies around the State.
• Utilizing a former law enforcement officer has facilitated communication and outreach to local law enforcement agencies.

Results

Louisiana’s crash data accuracy and completeness have been enhanced through the use of the LEE, which has led to better informed decision-making in the State’s efforts to improve safety. Training law enforcement agencies has greatly improved location data through better application of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Educating local law enforcement officers on the electronic crash report form and increasing their awareness and understanding of the importance of accurate, complete data has resulted in more regular reporting of data elements previously often omitted, such as the manner of collision. Outreach to local law enforcement has also raised awareness of the availability of data from the state to guide local crash reduction programs.

Contact

Terri Monaghan
Highway Safety Manager
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
225-379-1941
Terri.Monaghan@la.gov

Governor's Office of Highway Safety Adds Epidemiologist to Strengthen Crash Analysis Capabilities

Original publication: SHSP Implementation Process Model, Supplement Number 1 – Case Studies; FHWA-SA-10-025; 2010(PDF, 1MB)

Key Accomplishments

• Added an epidemiologist to GOHS staff to provide enhanced behavioral safety data analysis.
• Developed a safety data clearinghouse.
• Merged various datasets to improve safety data analyses.

To thoroughly investigate the behavioral aspects of highway safety, a number of datasets must be merged. In Georgia, the DOT provides location-specific crash data to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) in raw database format. Other agencies provide injury, trauma, licensing, and citation data to the GOHS separately. All data must be integrated to perform comprehensive safety analysis. The GOHS realized it needed to improve its analytic capabilities to incorporate data analyses into grant applications.

A 2004 Traffic Records Assessment recommended the GOHS hire an epidemiologist to strengthen safety data analysis. Epidemiology is the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, including injuries from car crashes. Therefore, the GOHS hired an epidemiologist to provide data analysis support. Rather than collecting and analyzing crash and injury data separately, the epidemiologist looks at factors that contribute to both crashes and injuries. The epidemiologist works closely with GDOT to manage data needs for the SHSP.

Results

The addition of an epidemiologist to GOHS staff has greatly strengthened SHSO crash analysis capabilities. The epidemiologist analyzes the clearinghouse of safety data available and creates queries specific to the GOHS’s data needs. These data runs are readily accessible to staff for grant applications and other needs.

Contact:
Randy Clayton
SHSP Operations Manager
Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety
404-651-8503
rclayton@gohs.ga.gov

New Jersey Partnership Provides Technical Support to Local Agencies on Crash Data Analysis

Original publication: SHSP Implementation Process Model, Supplement Number 1 – Case Studies; FHWA-SA-10-025; 2010(PDF, 1MB)

Key Accomplishments

• Established a resource center to assist county and municipal engineers in identifying low-cost safety improvements and developing better quality applications for project funding.
• Developed safety training programs for local agencies.
• Developed a new resource for technical support of NJDOT safety and engineering staff.
• Created a user friendly safety data warehouse to provide on-line safety data and analysis to local stakeholders Statewide.

To support SHSP implementation at all levels, New Jersey identified a need to increase technical safety support to local agencies. The Transportation Safety Resource Center (TSRC) was established by hiring a professional safety engineer from outside the university and by securing funding through the HSIP using State planning and research (SPR) funds. Rutgers University initially proposed the establishment of a research center to provide local technical assistance and training. FHWA suggested NJDOT be involved as a partner. NJDOT recommended that instead of establishing the center to conduct research, it would be more beneficial as an operating entity of NJDOT in helping to support SHSP implementation.

The TSRC at Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) now serves as a one-stop shop for technical support to local governments on engineering, planning, training, and outreach. This assistance has been particularly important in the development and deployment of safety initiatives to implement the SHSP. The TSRC’s engineering support services include needs assessments and recommendations on low-cost countermeasures. The TSRC helps local agencies enhance crash data processing, conduct safety analysis, and develop data mining applications. The Center also provides technical support to the Safety Conscious Planning Network, which supports SHSP implementation at the regional level.

The TSRC has partnered with the NJ Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) at Rutgers CAIT to develop and deliver training programs and technical assistance on crash data analysis using advanced decision support systems. Additional training has been provided on traffic signal design, electrical signal design, road safety audits, and guardrail design.

Results

The TSRC has helped local agencies improve their safety analysis capabilities. With support from the Center, local agencies have been able to effectively disseminate traffic safety data to support local safety initiatives and grant applications such as developing and implementing a larger number of “quick-fix,” low-cost safety projects. TSRC resources have enabled local stakeholders to develop better NJDOT project submittals, which include safety needs and potential solutions, allowing for a more efficient response.

Contact:
Sarah Weissman
Program Manager
Transportation Safety Resource Center
732-445-0579, Ext. 135
scweiss@rutgers.edu

New Jersey Provides Data Decision Support Tool to SHSP Partners

Original publication: HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series, Safety Data Collection, Analysis, and Sharing; FHWA-SA-11-02; 2011(PDF, 1.6MB)

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) recognized a need to provide transportation safety data in a more user-friendly format. Providing easier access to data and enhanced analytic capabilities would encourage participation by safety partners in the State’s various safety programs, including its SHSP efforts.

The State contracted with the Rutgers University Transportation Safety Resource Center (TSRC) to develop a roadway safety decision support tool. This software program enables users to quickly filter, analyze, and map crash records. The tool also allows merging of specialized data sources with crash records, enabling in-depth analysis.

The TSRC developed the software as a web-based application to enable public agency personnel to quickly analyze safety data. By hosting the tool on a platform of servers, large amounts of data can be accommodated with little effect on execution speed. The application processes queries submitted on-line, produces reports mapping crash location and severity, and identifies contributing factors. Users can access the software from any Internet-enabled computer without requiring a high level of computing power. The program is secured through the use of login IDs and passwords to protect content and allows users to save filters and preferences. The program enables network screening, economic analysis, and diagnosis. The network screening layer integrates methodologies currently used by safety engineers to locate high-crash intersections or segments. Crash rates can be calculated for any filter/query. The software also includes a model to predict crash frequencies and severity for selected roadways. Future elements will incorporate the safety performance function calculations from the new Highway Safety Manual into the program for all classifications of roadways to determine which locations have the greatest potential for safety improvement.

The Center also provides engineering, planning, training, and outreach services to local governments and assists with crash data analysis to support SHSP implementation. NJDOT funds work of the TSRC through the HSIP.

Key Accomplishments

• Developed new system for on-line access to transportation safety data enabling safety partners to make data-driven safety decisions.
• Enhanced capabilities to analyze data and tailor reports to support safety initiatives.
• Distributed safety data broadly to encourage greater SHSP participation.

Results

The web-based software tool supporting collection, analysis, and distribution of transportation safety data has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the SHSP. The approximately 500 agencies using the analysis software enjoy easy access to transportation safety data and can perform analyses to support their local safety initiatives as well as those at the state level. Broad dissemination of safety data and the availability of this tool has encouraged participation in the SHSP by safety partners at all levels.

Contact

Patrick Szary
Associate Director
Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT)
732-445-0579, Ext. 106
szary@rci.rutgers.edu

Illinois Develops SPFs for All State Routes and Intersections

Original publication: HSIP Noteworthy Practice Series, HSIP Project Identification; FHWA-SA-11-02; 2011(PDF, 2.7MB)

While the development of SafetyAnalyst and the Highway Safety Manual was still underway, Illinois decided to incorporate a new analysis technique to assist the state in moving forward with the implementation of SafetyAnalyst. Within a year, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), with the assistance of the University of Illinois, developed safety performance functions (SPF) for state routes and intersections throughout the state using the Empirical Bayes (EB) method. The SPFs have been used in the HSIP network screening process since 2008 to identify potential locations for safety improvement projects.

SPF equations were developed for 12 peer groups of roadway segments (e.g., rural two-lane highway, rural multilane undivided highway, rural multilane divided highway, etc.) and eight peer groups for intersections (e.g., rural minor leg stop control, rural all-way stop control, rural signalized, etc.). The SPFs are used in the network screening process to calculate a Potential for Safety Improvement (PSI) for all locations. The PSI is the difference between the corrected crash frequency (calculated using the EB method) and the expected crash experience (based on the SPF) for a given traffic volume within the peer group.

Since the focus of the HSIP is to reduce fatalities and serious injuries, the PSI calculation is weighted to emphasize the most severe crashes. The weighted PSI calculations are then ranked in ascending order by location and peer group to identify locations with the greatest safety need or highest PSI value. Once the sites with the greatest potential for safety improvement are identified, the IDOT Districts review the locations and make recommendations for improvement. Candidate HSIP projects on the state roadway system are selected by the District’s Safety Committee and submitted to the Bureau of Safety Engineering.

When the SPFs were originally developed, there was not enough data to develop SPFs for the local roadway system. Illinois has been expanding the crash database for local roadways and, in the near future, the state will begin discussions about the development of SPFs for local roadways, as well as updating the existing SPFs for state roadways. Currently, local roadways are evaluated using an aggregate level analysis to identify potential safety issues (e.g., counties with overrepresentation of a particular crash type, crash severity, behavioral issue, etc.). Local agencies can submit safety improvement projects to the State Safety Committee for funding consideration through the Local Road Program component of the HSIP.

Key Accomplishments

• Developed SPFs for state routes and intersections throughout the state.
• Expanded knowledge and acceptance of analysis techniques.
• Provided data-driven safety decision making tools.

Results

Incorporating SPFs into the network screening process for safety improvement projects has led to several positive outcomes. Although other factors may involved, Illinois has seen a significant reduction in fatalities. In 2009, Illinois had the lowest number of fatalities since 1921. Transportation professionals are embracing the analysis results and making data-driven safety decisions. Using SPFs has helped shift the focus of the state’s program away from the urban, densely populated areas and provided a broader focus for safety projects, including low-cost safety improvements or systemic improvements that may not have been identified using previous analysis methods. Engineers throughout the state have become more familiar and comfortable with the use of SPFs through the state’s efforts, leading to a greater acceptance of SPFs and appreciation for improved quantitative data.

Contact

Roseanne Nance
Illinois Department of Transportation
217-785-5875
nancer@dot.il.gov