MDOT – Topics in Safety

1. MDOT – Topics in Safety Dale Lighthizer, P.E. – MDOT Tracie Kalliainen, P.E. – MDOT Dean Kanitz, P.E. – MDOT Gary Osminski, P.E. – HCRC

2. Today - SAFETY • The 5% Report • Local Safety Initiative: An Update • A Local Perspective • Safety Funding Sources • Local Safety Initiative • Local Agency Programs • High Risk Rural Roads

3. 5% Report

4. SAFETEA-LU • Signed into Law August 10, 2005 • Effective through 2009 • Authorizes Federal Surface Transportation Programs • Emphasizes Highway Safety • 836 Page Document www.fhwa.dot.gov/safetealu/index.htm

5. THE 5% Report • SAFETEA-LU Requirement • Highway Safety Improvement Program • 23 U.S.C 148(c)(1)(D) “States are required to submit an annual report describing not less than 5 percent of their highway locations exhibiting the most severe safety needs.” safety.fhwa.dot.gov/safetealu/fiveguidance.htm

6. 5% - Requirements • The 5% Worst Locations – Statewide • No Min/Max • Potential Remedies – 4E’s • Estimated Costs for Remedies • Implementation Impediments • Other than Costs • To be made Public safety.fhwa.dot.gov/fivepercent/06mi.htm

7. 5% - Issues • Short Lead Time • What defines a severe safety need? • What data is available for use? • How to develop an initial list? • How should locations be targeted?

8. 5% - Methodology • FY 2006 – First Year • The initial list: • Intersections • Segments • Crash data • Crash severity: • Fatal crashes • Incapacitating injury crashes

9. 5% - Methodology Cont… • Intersection & Segment Lists • Every location with a K/A Crash • Mathematical Magic • Ranking, Score, 3SD, Top 5% • Most Severe Locations • 18 Intersections • 13 Segments

10. 5% - Methodology Cont… • Data Gathering • Crash Reports • Location • Jurisdiction • Field Reviews • Remedies • Impediments

11. 5% - Reporting

12. 5% - What Others Did • Other focuses include: • Fixable Locations • SV ROR • Median Penetration • Seatbelt use, Alcohol/Speed involved • Minimum # Crashes • State Routes Only (Data Limitations) • Etc.

13. 5% - Field Review Issues • Problems we’ve encountered • Locations That Were Fixed • Pedestrians on freeways • Obvious fix – BIG $$$

14. 5% - Process Revision • The process can be revised: • Focus on fixable locations • Target certain crash types • Intersections • Human Behaviors

15. Local Safety Initiative

16. Other Safety Initiatives • AASHTO • Michigan SHSP • Michigan Intersection Action Plan • Crash Data • Legislation

17. What is LSI? • Developed for Local Agencies • MDOT Personnel to Provide Assistance in Reducing Crashes • Provide Traffic Engineering Services • Data • Enhance RoadSoft Safety Module • Projects

18. Safety Goals • AASHTO Safety Goal • 1.0 Fatalities per 100 MVMT by 2008 • Michigan Safety Goal • 1.0 Fatalities per 100 MVMT by 2008 • To meet this goal in 2005: • 1,032 Fatalities • We had 1,133 Fatalities

19. Michigan Statistics - 2005 • 121,000 Miles of Roads • 103.2 Billion Vehicle Miles Traveled • 351,000 Crashes • 1,034 Fatal Crashes • 1,133 Fatalities

20. Fatality Rates 1.28 1.10

21. MDOT 8% Road Mileage 51% VMT 39% Crashes 43% Fatalities Local Agencies 92% Road Mileage 49% VMT 61% Crashes 57% Fatalities How We Stack Up - 2005

22. Changing the Stats • How can we “better” those statistics? • 4 E’s • Partnerships • GTSAC • Standing Committees • Traffic Advisory Groups

23. Our Process • An Agency gets started • Voluntary • High Level Analysis • Crash Analysis – RoadSoft • Field Reviews & Countermeasures • Projects – Funding (to be discussed) • High Risk Rural Roads (to be discussed)

24. LSI Focus • Low Cost Improvements • Moderate Cost Improvements • NCHRP 500 Reports

25. Post-Field Review • Select Countermeasures • Perform/Contract Design • Funding • Implement Countermeasures • B/A Analysis

26. LSI Successes • ~35 Counties have Volunteered • ~10 under analysis • 13+ Cities/Villages • Funding for 2 projects • To be discussed • Increased Safety awareness

27. Where the LSI is Going • Process Revisions • New “Recruits” • Rolling • Project Issues • Environmental • Coordination Issues • Subcontracting

28. To Achieve 1.0 by 2008 • Continue • 4 E’s • Partnering • Volunteer to be part of LSI

29. LSI – Examples • Scenario 1 • Intersection • Scenario 2 • Intersection • Scenario 3 • Horizontal Curve • Scenario 4 • Tangent/Horizontal Curve GAME TIME!

30. How to Play • A scenario is presented • ….. Then • You suggest the countermeasures This situation is similar to field reviews

31. Scenario 1 • 2-way stop controlled intersection, • There is a history of users failing to observe the stop sign(s). What could you do?

32. Supplemental Signing Situational Exceed Expectations Sign Clutter Signs Placement Size Bottom Height Lollipops Flavor Placement Segments Rumble Strips Situational Placement Warrants Types Sight Distance Alignment Vertical Horizontal Brush / Trees Access Management Possible Solutions

33. Supplemental Signing Example

34. Signs Example

35. LollipopsExample(securing reflective sheeting to sign posts)

36. Rumble Strips Example

37. Sight Distance Example

38. Scenario 2 • Users on the minor approach stop at the intersection for the stop control. • There is a history of users proceeding into the intersection and getting hit. What could you do?

39. Supplemental Signing “Cross Traffic Does not Stop” W4-4p “Intersection Warning” W2-1 – W2-6 with an Adv. St Name Plaque (W16-8) Sight Distance Clear brush Remove/Relocate fixed objects Access Management Increase horizontal alignment radius (widen curve) Increase vertical alignment radius (lower hill or raise valley) Possible Solutions

40. Scenario 3 • Seemingly normal paved horizontal curve in a rural setting with a relatively flat vertical profile. • A history of vehicles leaving the roadway on a curve. • What could you do?

41. Curve Signing Additional Signs Larger Signs Upgraded Sheeting Bottom Height Placement Delineation Pavement Markings Standard Wet / Night Width Chevrons Target Arrows Delineator Posts Slope Fatten Delineation Guardrail Possible Solutions

42. Curve Signing Example

43. Delineation Example

44. Slope (Tangent or Curve) Example

45. Scenario 4 • Paved tangent section with minor vertical curves • Vehicles are running off the road and hitting fixed objects. • What could you do?

46. Fixed Objects Remove “Lone” trees Relocate utility poles Mailbox installation Delineation Rumble Stripes Roadside Protection Bridges/Culverts End Treatments Upgraded Rail Delineation Possible Solutions

47. Roadside Protection Example Not so good…. So good….

48. Other Common Situations • Hidden Intersections • Parking Conflicts • Signalized Intersections • Traffic Control • Pedestrians/Bicycles

49. A Local Perspective • Successful local safety program • Board Support • Trained Employees • Local safety investigations • Always looking to improve • “Listen” • Working with LSI • LSI Projects

50. Being Proactive • Directional Signs • Delineator Posts • Curves • Culverts • Lollipop Signs • Rumble Strips • Flashing Beacons