Highway Safety & Wildlife: A National Perspective

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Data Needs to Improve • Consistency across and within States is lacking • Thriving wildlife and growing VMT • WVC is a growing problem

6. 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.

7. Importance of the Issue Safety Wildlife-Vehicle Crashes Economic Environmental

8. 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):

9. 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

10. 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”

11. 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)

12. Additional WVC National Efforts • Research will Play an Important Role NCHRP Synthesis 37-12 “Animal-Vehicle Collision Data Collection” DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS

13. Public Perception

14. The Vehicles • (Automotive Engineering) • The Animals • (Environmental Stewardship) • The Drivers • (Education and Enforcement) Interdisciplinary Strategies • The Roadways • (Highway Engineering)

15. 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)

16. “Avoiding the Animal” Crashes

17. PLANNING PLANNING DESIGN SAFETY DESIGN OPERATIONS SAFETY OPERATIONS CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION Conventional PD Process Improved Process Highway Safety Engineering • “Science of Safety”

18. 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

19. 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

20. Measurable Benefits to Managing the Roadside1 1. All tables excerpted from NCHRP 500 Volume 6: A Guide for Addressing Run-Off-Road Collisions

21. ADDED CHEVRONS BEFORE ADDED GUARDRAIL AFTER Low Cost Safety Improvements STEEP SIDESLOPE “BLIND” CURVE

22. BEFORE TREE REMOVAL & DELINEATION ADDED STABILIZED SHOULDERS AFTER Low Cost Safety Improvements HIGH TREEDENSITY LACK OF SHOULDERS

23. TREE REMOVAL & IMPROVED SIGHTLINES BEFORE ADDED STABILIZED SHOULDERS AFTER Low Cost Safety Improvements HIGH TREE DENSITY LACK OF SHOULDERS

24. HIGH VEGETATION DENSITY BEFORE BRUSH CLEARING & IMPROVED SIGHTLINES AFTER Low Cost Safety Improvements

25. 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)

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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).

29. Thank You Patrick HassonTel: 708-283-3595 Email: patrick.hasson@fhwa.dot.gov