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Brief Biography

Explore the career highlights of Jacob K. Ojera, an experienced roadway design professional with Colorado Department of Transportation. Learn about his successes in reducing highway fatalities and innovative approaches to traffic safety.

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Brief Biography

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  1. Brief Biography Jacob K. Ojera P.E. Background: Transplanted Colorado native Born in Uganda, East Africa Career Highlights: 18 years with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) 16 years of roadway design experience with CDOT Project experiences include NEPA studies, roadway and Interchange design Currently CADD manager Contact Information Jacob Ojera Colorado Department of Transportation, 4201 E. Arkansas, Denver, CO 80222 Phone # 303 757 5204 Email Address: jacob.ojera@dot.state.co.us

  2. AASHTO Subcommittee on Design Presentation • Successes in Reducing Highway Fatalities in Colorado • July 2008 • Roadway Fatality Trends: • In 1977, Colorado had 3.8 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel • By the year 2006, the rate declined to 1.10 • Since the state’s all-time high of 743 fatalities in 2002, Colorado’s roadway fatalities have been on a downward trend, decreasing by 25.4% in 2007. • Major causes of Roadway Fatalities: • Impaired driving • Lack of use of occupant protection devices • Young driver behaviors • Aggressive driving • Below are graphs showing • Colorado’s successes.

  3. The majority of Colorado’s Lane Departure fatal crashes occur on rural roadways • Colorado has developed a new methodology of identifying locations with potential for accident reduction, and has been applying it to all projects. This includes the selection criteria for our Hazard Elimination (HES) Program.  • HES funds are used at locations with potential for accident reduction, to prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway, for removing roadside obstacles, and to reduce intersection crashes. This methodology is supported by many years of research and papers accepted and published by TRB.  This has been a major contributing factor in reducing the severity of crashes in the State.  • Above is a graph of the Rural Fatal Crashes in Colorado since 2001.  This significant reduction is a result of identifying crashes that are susceptible to correction in a cost effective manner and applying the proper fix to that crash type, versus coming up with a countermeasure and applying it around the state.

  4. Reasons for Successes • Colorado’s Behavioral and Engineering programs • Colorado instituted an Integrated safety plan that focuses on roadway safety through education, enforcement, engineering and emergency services with a goal of: • Reducing traffic crash fatalities and injuries • Further reducing deaths on Colorado’s highways in the future • Defining transportation safety goals and objectives • Specific safety projects and funding for implementation and • Strategies for achieving goals • Attached are slides highlighting aspects of Colorado’s safety plan and behavioral programs.

  5. Safety and Traffic EngineeringTraffic Records(Data Management)

  6. Safety and Traffic EngineeringTraffic Records(Data Management) Traffic Records Team Rahim Marandi, PE Traffic Records Manager/FARS Supervisor David Bourget, PE Grants Project Manager Charles Keep Data Analyst/FARS Analyst Rick Davis Data Analyst/FARS back-up Analyst Carmen Gomez Data Analyst Kevin Dietrick Data Analyst/FARS back-up Analyst Purpose of Traffic Records Unit is to provide data to support the Behavioral and Engineering Programs

  7. Fatalities Analysis Reporting System (FARS) • U.S. Department of Transportation • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) • National Center for Statistics & Analysis (NCSA) • Department of Transportations, e. g., CDOT Colorado FARS Program Kevin Deitrick FARS Back-up Analyst Charles Keep FARS Analyst Rahim Marandi FARS Supervisor

  8. Safety and Traffic EngineeringTraffic Records(Data Management) Uses of FARS data • BAC and Drug Legislation • Motorcycle Helmet Usage Legislation • Repeated offenders • Restraint usage laws • High Speed differential reduction • Safety design of cars and light trucks • Safety of large trucks on the highway • Airbag effectiveness research

  9. Safety and Traffic EngineeringTraffic Records(Data Management) Where does FARS Data comes from? • Police Crash Reports • State Vehicle Registration Files • State Driver Licensing Files • State Highway Department Crash Data • Vital Statistics/Death Certificates • Coroner/Medical Examiner Reports • Hospital Medical Records • Emergency Medical Services Reports

  10. Impaired Drivingand Occupant Protection Safety Programs PEOPLE AND PROGRAMS SAVING LIVES

  11. MISSION STATEMENT To reduce the incidence and severity of motor vehicle crashes and the human and economic loss associated with motor vehicle crashes. What We Do In support of this mission, the units work closely with Colorado communities, law enforcement, and traffic safety experts to design and implement projects to proactively address the state’s emerging and persistent traffic safety challenges.

  12. Impaired Driving Program Goals

  13. Occupant Protection Program Goals

  14. Program Funding CDOT applies for and receives Federal funding from National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA) for: • 410 funding-Alcohol-Impaired Driving • 2010 funding-Motorcycle Safety • 1906 funding-Prevent Racial Profiling • 408 funding-Data Improvement • 402 funding-Highway Safety Programs CDOT receives State funds by statute for: • LEAF-Law Enforcement Assistance Fund • MOST-Motorcycle Operator Safety Training

  15. Training and Technical Assistance Programs • Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (DUI roadsides) • Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Program • National DRE/Impaired Driving Conference • Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor • Law Enforcement Coordinator • Child Passenger Safety Technician Certification

  16. Young Drivers & Education • Underage Drinking Prevention Project • MADD • Summit Prevention Alliance • Motorcycle Operator Safety Training • ABATE Trike, Motorcycle PR campaign • DUI Simulator • Prohibit Racial Profiling

  17. Occupant Protection Programs • Occupant Protection-16 projects • Safe Communities-3 projects • Pedestrian and Bicycles-3 projects • Memorial Sign Program Occupant Protection • Child Passenger Safety and Outreach • Minority and Rural Focused Programs • Occupant Protection Enforcement-Click it or Ticket • Annual Seat Belt Survey • Teen Traffic Safety

  18. Colorado Fatalities Total Fatalities: • 2004 667 Alcohol Related 265 39.7 % • 2005 606 Alcohol Related 252 41.5% • 2006 535 Alcohol Related 226 42.4% • 2007 554 Alcohol Related 217 39.1% Motorcycle Total Fatalities • 2004 81 • 2005 87 • 2006 74 • 2007 90 • 2008 12 (As of 5/01/08)

  19. Impaired Driving Programs: Glenn Davis 303-757-9462 glenn.davis@dot.state.co.us Occupant Protection Programs: Carol Gould 303-757-9468 Carol.gould@dot.state.co.us Capt. Bruce Sheetz – Law Enforcement Coordinator: 303-757-9463 bruce.sheetz@dot.state.co.us

  20. Colorado of Transportation "Click It or Ticket" Campaign and Teen Outreach No other safety program has the same “bottom line” potential for reducing traffic deaths and injuries due to lack of safety belt usage.

  21. What is “Click It or Ticket”? • NHTSA developed the program. • An intensive and short duration Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP) with the objective to raise seat belt use statewide • Concerted enforcement of secondary seat belt laws through speeding and hazardous driving contacts • Intense public information campaign running prior to and concurrently with the enforcement “blitz” • sTEPs are a proven method to change motorists’ behavior and do it quickly

  22. Colorado “Click It or Ticket” • Team Effort • CDOT Safety and Traffic Engineering Branch and Public Relations Office • Colorado State Patrol • Local law enforcement agencies • Local traffic safety coalitions • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

  23. Program Improvement Ideas • Begin outreach to teens earlier. • Designate coalition representative to coordinate earned media activities. • Help us find safety belt survivors. • Law enforcement schedules. • Incorporate CIOT activities/messaging into other non- traffic safety community events.

  24. “Click It or Ticket” Campaign Goals • Save lives and reduce injuries in traffic crashes by creating an enforcement perception that will influence part-time and non-belt users to buckle up • Partner and interact with safety groups and coalitions to gain citizen support and political permission • Increase statewide seat belt use to 82.5% by 2007 and to 85.0% by 2010

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