Fundamental Data Elements for HSIP (FDE/HSIP)

While MIRE provides a comprehensive listing of roadway and traffic data elements, it may not be feasible for States to collect all of the 200+ MIRE elements and integrate them into their existing programs.  State departments of transportation (DOTs), particularly highway safety agencies, are facing increasing demands and decreasing resources.

Background

The following sections provide additional background on the use of safety data in the HSIP, the MIRE elements, and the FDE/HSIP, as each relates to this effort.

Objective

The objective of this effort was to conduct a market analysis of the potential cost to States in developing a statewide location referencing system and collecting the FDE/HSIP on all public roadways.  The primary theory is that collecting additional roadway and traffic data and integrating those data into the safety analysis process will improve an agency’s ability to locate problem areas and apply appropriate countermeasures, hence improving safety.

Introduction

Quality data are the foundation for making important decisions regarding the design, operation, and safety of roadways.  By incorporating roadway and traffic data into safety analysis procedures, States can better identify safety problems and prescribe solutions to support their Highway Safety Improvement Programs (HSIPs) and implement their Strategic Highway Safety Plans (SHSPs).  Furthermore, a new generation of safety analysis tools and methods are being developed to help identify safety issues and to provide recommendations for improvements.  These safety analysis tools,

Executive Summary

Quality data are the foundation for making important decisions regarding the design, operation, and safety of roadways.  By incorporating roadway and traffic data into safety analysis procedures, States can better identify safety problems and prescribe solutions to support their Highway Safety Improvement Programs (HSIP) and implement their Strategic Highway Safety Plans (SHSP).

Market Analysis of Collecting Fundamental Roadway Data Elements to Support the Highway Safety Improvement Program

Appendix A: FDE/HSIP Element Data Dictionary

References

1. Federal Highway Administration, Federal-Aid Policy Guide, Title 23 - Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter J – Highway Safety. Accessed online June 16, 2011, https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/cfr23toc.htm.
2. Federal Highway Administration,  Facts & Statistics.

Summary

Quality data are the foundation for making important decisions regarding the design, operation, and safety of roadways.  By incorporating roadway and traffic data into safety analysis procedures, States can better identify safety problems and prescribe solutions to support their HSIPs and implement their SHSPs.

Performance Measures

Performance measures are fundamental in helping Federal, State, and local agencies to assess the quality of their data systems.  As States expand their roadway data inventories by collecting the FDE/HSIP, they should review their current performance measures (if any exist) and implement additional performance measures to achieve quality data.  This should be considered not just for roadway data but for all traffic data systems.