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Patrick Hasson National Technical Service Team Leader Safety and Design FHWA Tel: 708-283-3595 Email: patrick.hasson@fhwa.dot.gov October 24-25, 2005 Highway Safety & Wildlife: A National Perspective What you will hear… National Statistics for Wildlife-Vehicle Crashes (WVC)
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Patrick HassonNational Technical Service Team LeaderSafety and DesignFHWA Tel: 708-283-3595 Email: patrick.hasson@fhwa.dot.gov October 24-25, 2005 Highway Safety & Wildlife: A National Perspective
What you will hear… • National Statistics for Wildlife-Vehicle Crashes (WVC) • WVC Elements in New Legislation • Information on some safety initiatives that could make a difference
Framing the Issue in a National Context • 2003 Nationwide Highway-Related Crashes and Fatalities1 • Overall: 6,289,000 crashes resulting in 2,889,000 injuries and 42,884 fatalities. • WVC: 315,000 crashes (5 % of total) • WVC: 10,000 injuries (1% of total) • WVC: 200 fatalities (1/2 % of total). Believed to be under-reported by 50% or higher. 1. USDOT NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2003
WVC Trends • Centers for Disease Control Analysis of 2001-02 WVC Statistics2 • Crashes and injuries occurred more often during • October and November and • Dusk/night/dawn conditions • 87% of were DVC type • 45% of DVC crashes resulted in some type of lane departure maneuver 2. CDC Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 2004 Volume 53 Pgs 675-678
Data Needs to Improve • Consistency across and within States is lacking • Thriving wildlife and growing VMT • WVC is a growing problem
Growing Problem? • WVC Fatalities increased 45% from 1994 – 2003 (IIHS) • 54% Increase from 1994 to 2000 in PA • 51% increase from 1990 – 2000 in IA • 69% increase in five states (combined) from 1985 to 1991.
Importance of the Issue Safety Wildlife-Vehicle Crashes Economic Environmental
Setting the Highway Safety Agenda: The Federal Role • Reauthorization - Funding and Prioritization • Federal Government legislative multiyear “plan of action” • Provides National Programmatic Guidance and Appropriation Assignment • Newest Law (signed by President Bush on 08/10/2005):
WVC and SAFETEA-LUAt least 4 WVC-related activities included in new legislation • 1. Section 1119(n): Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Reduction Study • Determine causes of WVC; assess impacts of WVC; evaluate solutions for prevention of WVC • Best-practices manual with guidance on developing a WVC prevention action plan
WVC and SAFETEA-LU • 2. Section 1122(K)(ii):Transportation Enhancement Activity • Amends 23CFR 101(a)(35) to make eligible enhancements that “reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity”
WVC and SAFETEA-LU • Section 1401(3)(B)(xviii) • Highway Safety Improvement Project eligibility includes “addition or retrofitting of structures or other measures to eliminate or reduce accidents involving vehicles and wildlife” • High Priority Project #1941 • $200K Deer Avoidance System to be implemented on Interstate 90 (MP 494.5 PA to MP 304.2 NY)
Additional WVC National Efforts • Research will Play an Important Role NCHRP Synthesis 37-12 “Animal-Vehicle Collision Data Collection” DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS
The Vehicles • (Automotive Engineering) • The Animals • (Environmental Stewardship) • The Drivers • (Education and Enforcement) Interdisciplinary Strategies • The Roadways • (Highway Engineering)
What else do we know? • 12 to 35% of all reported crashes on rural, 2-Lane roads involve animals. (GAO, 2004) • Centers for Disease Control on WVC: • 54% involve collision with animal • 45% involve avoiding animal “Don’t Veer for Deer” (Michigan)
PLANNING PLANNING DESIGN SAFETY DESIGN OPERATIONS SAFETY OPERATIONS CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION Conventional PD Process Improved Process Highway Safety Engineering • “Science of Safety”
Implementing Safety Improvements • Current Best-Practices & Technologies Can Address the Problem – Directly and Indirectly • Adopting AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety Plan Strategies • Implementing Low-Cost Safety Improvements • Applying the principles of Context Sensitive Solutions
AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety Plan Strategies • 22 Goals Selected to Significantly Reduce Highway Crash Fatalities • Run Off Road Emphasis Area • Goal 15: Keeping Vehicles on the Roadway • Goal 16: Minimizing Consequences of Leaving Roadway
Measurable Benefits to Managing the Roadside1 1. All tables excerpted from NCHRP 500 Volume 6: A Guide for Addressing Run-Off-Road Collisions
ADDED CHEVRONS BEFORE ADDED GUARDRAIL AFTER Low Cost Safety Improvements STEEP SIDESLOPE “BLIND” CURVE
BEFORE TREE REMOVAL & DELINEATION ADDED STABILIZED SHOULDERS AFTER Low Cost Safety Improvements HIGH TREEDENSITY LACK OF SHOULDERS
TREE REMOVAL & IMPROVED SIGHTLINES BEFORE ADDED STABILIZED SHOULDERS AFTER Low Cost Safety Improvements HIGH TREE DENSITY LACK OF SHOULDERS
HIGH VEGETATION DENSITY BEFORE BRUSH CLEARING & IMPROVED SIGHTLINES AFTER Low Cost Safety Improvements
LCSI: The Safety Edge • Eliminates the vertical edge drop-off • Applies a 30°-35° asphalt fillet to the edge of the roadway • Minimal added cost (<1% overall)
Context Sensitive Solutions - Success Stories • From Arizona DOT 1. Story excerpted from FHWA Office of Environment website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/wildlifeprotection/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewArticle&articleID=27 2. Photo credit to Doug Klassen’s “Forty Years on Two Wheels” internet web log
Context Sensitive Solutions - Success Stories • From Arizona DOT 1. Story excerpted from FHWA Office of Environment website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/wildlifeprotection/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewArticle&articleID=27 2. Photo credit to Doug Klassen’s “Forty Years on Two Wheels” internet web log
The Next Step • Tailoring Existing Safety Solutions to a Growing Problem • SAFETEA-LU: Improve data quality and knowledge of best practices • Safety Best Practices: Have a Positive Impact on Reducing Severity and Number of WVC • Research: Finding solutions that balances resources (interdisciplinary).
Thank You Patrick HassonTel: 708-283-3595 Email: patrick.hasson@fhwa.dot.gov