Road Safety Audits

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

Key Accomplishments

• Prevented duplication of effort by emphasis area teams and Office of Planning personnel through a centralized RSA process.
• Linked emphasis area RSA strategies with existing State RSA program to institutionalize the SHSP process.

In Maryland several SHSP emphasis area teams (Keep Vehicles on the Roadway, Intersections, Young Drivers, and Pedestrians) identified Roadway Safety Audits (RSAs) as a strategy to improve safety. Prior to the SHSP, the Office of Planning had developed an RSA program designed around Maryland’s roadway standards. To coordinate all RSA activities across the State, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) established a Roadway Safety Audit Committee. The committee, made up of senior management and staff from MDOT districts and the Offices of Planning and Preliminary Engineering, Highway Development, Traffic and Safety, and Maintenance, will develop RSA policy and criteria for audit locations, as well as review selected locations, findings, and recommendations. This new process will help identify issues requiring a systemwide response. The committee will track implementation of audit findings to evaluate their effectiveness and to revise standards as needed.

Results

The work of the RSA Committee is linked with the RSA implementation strategy in the SHSP. The Director of the Office of Planning and Preliminary Engineering is a member of the SHSP Management Team and coordinates RSA findings with emphasis area action plans.

Contact:
Mary Dietz
Chief, Regional and Intermodal Planning Division
Maryland State Highway Administration
410-545-5570
mdeitz@sha.state.md.us

Three-Tiered Programming

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

Key Accomplishments

• Enabled various types of safety programming to be addressed differently via a tiered approach.
• Allowed safety stakeholders to take advantage of new opportunities.
• Reduced the need to rewrite the SHSP because flexibility is written into the Plan.

Through the SHSP process States identify a full range of potential safety strategies. Implementation of each strategy ranges from relatively easy to very challenging. Likewise, the potential benefits of strategies vary significantly. Therefore, Utah has stratified its SHSP approach to focus on the strategies with the greatest expected benefits and manage the level of implementation effort.

The safety leadership team in Utah designed the SHSP using a three-tiered approach. The first tier represents emphasis areas with the most significant issues and addresses strategies with the greatest potential for reducing fatalities and injuries. These areas require a comprehensive approach and include roadway departure crashes; safety restraint use; impaired, aggressive, drowsy, and distracted driving; intersection safety; and young driver safety. Emphasis area leaders are assigned from the leadership team with the primary responsibility for the issue.

The second tier addresses programs or processes currently underway in Utah. The safety leadership team determined these programs must continue to be supported and enhanced. The safety areas in this category include pedestrian, child, work zone, motorcycle safety, railroad crossing, older drivers, bicycle safety, and truck safety.

The third tier represents opportunities to further reduce fatalities and injuries and recognizes these areas would take significant effort and resources to develop. Programs included in this tier address the crash data system, emergency services capabilities, and the safety management system (defined as not just planning, but actual physical connections among projects). Emerging issues, such as the role of the courts in traffic safety, also are addressed here. There is some fluidity in this tier, which provides the ability to take advantage of knowledgeable people and technology, manage new problems, and identify new opportunities as they come up. These strategies can be elevated to a higher tier without updating the entire SHSP.

Results

The SHSP’s three-tiered design focuses efforts on implementing the most feasible strategies having the largest potential safety benefits. It accommodates emerging issues and opportunities by providing the flexibility to move programs among the tiers without having to revise the plan.

Contact:
Robert Hull
Director, Traffic and Safety Division
Utah DOT
801-965-4273
rhull@utah.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

Focusing HSP Grant Applications

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

Key Accomplishments

• Directly linked the behavioral HSP of the SHSO to the SHSP.
• Raised awareness of State and local level grantees of the need to implement projects targeting established SHSP goals and objectives.

The Maryland Highway Safety Office (MHSO) recognized the need to institutionalize the link between the Highway Safety Plan (HSP) and the SHSP through the grant application process. Each year the MHSO conducts grant application seminars for prospective grantees for the upcoming fiscal year. During the seminars, the MHSO Director and other presenters instruct attendees to relate their applications directly to the emphasis areas, strategies, and action steps in the SHSP.

The MHSO provides potential grantees with materials to support linking grant applications with the SHSP. Each seminar attendee receives a copy of the SHSP objectives and emphasis areas and a full copy of the SHSP on CD. In the grant application software a pop-up was added to remind grantees that programs should be directly related to the SHSP; this pop-up appears every time the grantee enters information about an objective or activity.

MHSO program coordinators prescreen grant applications before a project is submitted to the final grant review team. Among other criteria, program coordinators evaluate each application on how it relates to the SHSP.

Results

In the first year after instituting the new process, the MHSO has seen a concerted effort by grantees to ensure projects are within the scope of the SHSP.

Contact:
Vern Betkey
Chief
Maryland Highway Safety Office
410-787-5824
vbetkey@sha.state.md.us

SHSP Newsletters

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

Key Accomplishments

• Used a newsletter as a vehicle for ongoing SHSP marketing to stakeholders.
• Highlighted accomplishments of key SHSP supporters via a newsletter.
• Educated a wide audience about ongoing safety activities.

Sustaining support and interest in the SHSP is difficult, particularly since people involved in implementation usually have other responsibilities as well. To maintain interest and activity in the SHSP, Maryland publishes a quarterly newsletter highlighting Statewide and local activities conducted by emphasis area and regional teams. The newsletter is sent to an extensive e-mail distribution list, including members of the SHSP Executive Committee, the SHSP implementation team, participants of the two SHSP Summits, elected officials, and other key Federal and State stakeholders. The newsletter includes a Champion’s Corner highlighting the contributions of exceptional SHSP supporters who devote significant time and energy to the plan.

Maryland usually publishes the newsletter following the quarterly meetings of the SHSP Implementation Team at which time emphasis area and regional team leaders provide progress reports. The Governor has agreed to contribute a safety message on a periodic basis, and newsletter recipients submit ideas for future articles. An SHSP consultant creates the newsletter with funding from the Maryland Highway Safety Office, and content is approved by the SHSP Management Team.

Results

The SHSP Newsletter is helping maintain momentum for SHSP implementation by keeping a broad range of safety stakeholders informed on its progress. The newsletter credits those that are moving the implementation process forward and motivates stakeholders to continue implementation efforts. This marketing tool keeps safety stakeholders abreast of State and regional activities and events related to safety.

Contact:
Vern Betkey
Director
Maryland Highway Safety Office
410-787-5824
vbetkey@sha.state.md.us

SHSP Steering Committee Manages Implementation with Tracking Tools

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

Key Accomplishments

• Developed user-friendly tracking tools enabling the Steering Committee to monitor SHSP implementation progress.
• Established a process for emphasis area team leaders to regularly update SHSP leadership on implementation status.

To ensure implementation of the SHSP is progressing according to plan, the Steering Committee requires emphasis area team leaders to report the status of their action items on a quarterly basis. To support this effort the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has developed two tools to streamline the tracking and evaluation process.

Quarterly reports display the priority strategies, give an update on the annual safety goal, and provide the actual number of fatalities to date by emphasis area. Each emphasis area team leader provides updates on the status of individual implementation activities for each priority strategy. The SHSP steering committee receives a master quarterly report to enable comprehensive tracking of implementation.

Example of Quarterly Report Entry:

Emphasis Area I – Fixed Object Crashes.

Priority Strategy – Conduct RSAs.

Comments – ODOT staff has identified locations and begun RSA reviews. All RSAs are to be conducted by the end of 2009.

ODOT analysts also provide automated quarterly reports to the Steering Committee showing fatalities and incapacitating injuries by emphasis area. The spreadsheet shows fatalities for a three-year period. This report allows the Steering Committee to track fatality and incapacitating injury trends and measure progress against goals.

Results

ODOT developed user-friendly tracking and evaluation tools to improve the SHSP Steering Committee’s ability to monitor implementation progress. The procedures developed provide relevant and timely information to the Steering Committee so implementation challenges are identified early and can be addressed.

Contact:
Michelle May
Safety Program Manager
Ohio DOT
614-644-8309
Michelle.May@dot.state.oh.us

Multiagency Policy Council Supporting Safety Legislation

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

Key Accomplishments

• Tapped into an existing mechanism to move SHSP legislative strategies into the implementation pipeline.
• Engaged an existing Statewide Safety Council in tracking SHSP implementation progress.
• Established a process for the Governor and State legislature to be briefed annually on SHSP progress.

Prior to the passage of SAFETEA-LU and the development of the SHSP, the Governor of New Jersey established an interagency Highway Traffic Safety Policy Advisory Council. The Council was conceived as a forum for discussing State transportation safety needs and as a mechanism for facilitating safety legislation. Council members are appointed by the Governor and include representatives from FHWA, NJDOT, Division of Highway Traffic Safety, Highway Safety Council, Motor Vehicle Commission, Emergency Medical Services, Department of Health, Department of Education, municipal law enforcement, courts, private sector corporations, and the general public. The Council holds bimonthly public meetings.

The Council provides a means for identifying legislative proposals through the SHSP and presenting them for consideration without direct lobbying, which is prohibited for agencies receiving public funds. Many Council members participated in development of the New Jersey’s SHSP and have an extensive understanding of its purpose and objectives. Since its formation the Council has made legislative proposals to the Governor regarding the State’s Highway Safety Plan (HSP) and it now also reports on SHSP implementation progress.

Results

The Highway Traffic Safety Policy Advisory Council provides an institutionalized means of reviewing SHSP progress and recommending legislative actions to the Governor.

Contact:
Pam Fischer
Director
New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety
609-633-9272
Pam.Fischer@lps.state.nj.us

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

SHSP Leadership Summit

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

Key Accomplishments

• Engaged a wide range of stakeholders at the regional and local levels.
• Achieved increased communication and coordination among safety disciplines.
• Developed new ideas and approaches to SHSP implementation at the local level.

As Maryland moved forward on implementation, the need for greater participation at the regional and local level became clear. To address this concern, the Management Team determined the second SHSP Summit should focus on leadership and on how individuals at the local level could participate in the process. A regional approach also provided an opportunity to involve the metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) and other regional planning agencies. This was viewed as a way to address the SHSP requirement that the plan apply to all public roads. These organizations have a direct link to local elected officials, an important constituency for SHSP success. The Secretary of Transportation sent a letter to mayors, county council members, and other elected officials asking them to create a team from their counties. The Community Traffic Safety Program (CTSP) coordinators, who are active in every county in the State, were tasked to assist with the formation of the Summit teams.

More than 400 individuals attended the Summit and participated in the regional breakout sessions where data were provided on the region’s most serious transportation safety problems. Participants viewed the data and selected the applicable emphasis areas. They reviewed the SHSP Statewide strategies and action steps and adapted those that were relevant.

Results

Following the Statewide Summit, two regions went on to hold Regional Safety Summits, with support provided by the CTSP coordinators and the State Highway Administration’s district personnel. One region invested in a radio campaign to promote safety. The Baltimore Metropolitan Council established a standing committee on highway safety. The effort also resulted in the development of a young driver program by one county’s Superintendent of Public Schools, a group that had previously not been as active in SHSP implementation.

Contact:
Vern Betkey
Director
Maryland Highway Safety Office
410-787-5824
vbetkey@sha.state.md.us

Legislative Symposium

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

Key Accomplishments

• Educated State legislators on the SHSP.
• Initiated dialogue between safety professionals and State legislators.
• Presented technical information on data necessary to identify and support legislative initiatives.

To enlist the support of New Jersey legislators for safety initiatives, the State’s metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), with support of New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, organized and facilitated a Statewide legislative symposium. The half-day event was designed to educate legislators about New Jersey’s safety needs and market the SHSP.

The symposium agenda included presentations by NJDOT on pedestrian and bicycle safety initiatives, by the State Police on aggressive driving programs, by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) on impaired driving, and by the New Jersey Safety Council on young drivers. Legislators also were asked to discuss pending legislation relevant to transportation safety.

To encourage participation in advance of the symposium, legislators were sent information about New Jersey’s SHSP and initiatives being pursued through the State’s Transportation Safety Policy Advisory Council. It was critical that no lobbying for specific legislation be conducted during the symposium, as it is prohibited for agencies receiving Federal funding. However, with increased information about New Jersey’s safety needs, legislators were better educated about the kinds of approaches they could pursue legislatively to further the State’s safety agenda. All costs, including staff time for preparation and meeting space, were underwritten by the MPOs.

Results

Given the success of the event and the positive response from legislators, New Jersey intends to conduct this symposium again in the future.

Contact:
John D. Ward
Associate Director, Planning Division
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
215-238-2899
jward@dvrpc.org