Louisiana s Strategic Highway Safety Plan

1. Louisiana’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan Introductions: TBD when we figure out who will address what portions of the presentation. We’d like to take a few minutes to tell you about our Strategic Highway Safety Plan, which we refer to as the SHSP or, as you heard from Eric, Destination Zero. We are in the process of updating the plan and would like your feedback during or after the summit. This is an interactive session, so please feel free to jump in with questions, comments, or recommendations. Introductions: TBD when we figure out who will address what portions of the presentation. We’d like to take a few minutes to tell you about our Strategic Highway Safety Plan, which we refer to as the SHSP or, as you heard from Eric, Destination Zero. We are in the process of updating the plan and would like your feedback during or after the summit. This is an interactive session, so please feel free to jump in with questions, comments, or recommendations.

2. A Walk Down Memory Lane 1998 – AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety Plan 2004 – Louisiana SHSP Katrina!! 2005 – SAFETEA-LU 2006 – Louisiana SHSP 2010 – SHSP Update Data analysis Stakeholder meeting Summit To make sure we’re all on the same page, let’s take a walk down memory lane. In 1998 AASHTO published a national strategic highway safety plan and encouraged states to do the same. Louisiana answered the challenge and began working on the SHSP in 2003-2004. Hurricane Katrina, however, set us back a couple of years because we had just a few other things to do! In 2005, Congress passed SAFETEA-LU which required all states to develop a SHSP. We got started again as soon as we could and met the deadline of completing our plan by October 1, 2007. The original plan was ambitious and complex and in 2009, we decided a more targeted approach was needed and started with an update of the plan. With the help of many partners, we have accomplished quite a lot so we began by reviewing our accomplishments and identifying gaps. We studied the data and arranged for a stakeholder’s meeting in December. We had a very good turnout for that meeting with a variety of participants and organizations attending. This group is now the SHSP implementation team, and they are leading the charge on getting this plan put into action. But they need your help. Our purposes today are to: Augment that statewide team with regional and local partners; Begin targeting our countermeasures and resources more toward local problem areas; and Begin the formation of regional safety action teams. To make sure we’re all on the same page, let’s take a walk down memory lane. In 1998 AASHTO published a national strategic highway safety plan and encouraged states to do the same. Louisiana answered the challenge and began working on the SHSP in 2003-2004. Hurricane Katrina, however, set us back a couple of years because we had just a few other things to do! In 2005, Congress passed SAFETEA-LU which required all states to develop a SHSP. We got started again as soon as we could and met the deadline of completing our plan by October 1, 2007. The original plan was ambitious and complex and in 2009, we decided a more targeted approach was needed and started with an update of the plan. With the help of many partners, we have accomplished quite a lot so we began by reviewing our accomplishments and identifying gaps. We studied the data and arranged for a stakeholder’s meeting in December. We had a very good turnout for that meeting with a variety of participants and organizations attending. This group is now the SHSP implementation team, and they are leading the charge on getting this plan put into action. But they need your help. Our purposes today are to: Augment that statewide team with regional and local partners; Begin targeting our countermeasures and resources more toward local problem areas; and Begin the formation of regional safety action teams.

3. SHSP Stakeholders Highway Safety Commission Louisiana State Police Troop Commands Louisiana DOTD Local Technical Assistance Program Governor’s DUI Task Force We could not have arrived at this point without the help and support of a wide variety of stakeholders who joined the effort to save lives and reduce injuries on our roadways. These stakeholders include: Highway Safety Commission Louisiana State Police Troop Commands Louisiana DOTD Local Technical Assistance Program Governor’s DUI Task Force EMS LSU Highway Safety Research Group Louisiana Municipal Association Supreme Court Office of Motor Vehicles We could not have arrived at this point without the help and support of a wide variety of stakeholders who joined the effort to save lives and reduce injuries on our roadways. These stakeholders include: Highway Safety Commission Louisiana State Police Troop Commands Louisiana DOTD Local Technical Assistance Program Governor’s DUI Task Force EMS LSU Highway Safety Research Group Louisiana Municipal Association Supreme Court Office of Motor Vehicles

4. SHSP Stakeholders Association of Chiefs of Police District Attorneys Association Sheriff’s Association Operation Lifesaver Safe Routes to School Association of Chiefs of Police District Attorneys Association Sheriff’s Association Operation Lifesaver Safe Routes to School Motor Transport Association Federal representative FHWA FMCSA NHTSA Federal Railroad Administration Association of Chiefs of Police District Attorneys Association Sheriff’s Association Operation Lifesaver Safe Routes to School Motor Transport Association Federal representative FHWA FMCSA NHTSA Federal Railroad Administration

5. [ 4 ] Vision and Mission The vision of the Louisiana Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) is to reach Destination Zero Deaths on Louisiana roadways. The mission of the SHSP is to reduce the human and economic toll on Louisiana’s surface transportation system due to traffic crashes through widespread collaboration and an integrated 4E approach. These partners are promoting an important vision for the Louisiana Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) and that is to reach Destination Zero Deaths on Louisiana roadways. We will reach this vision by applying the mission of the SHSP which is to reduce the human and economic toll on Louisiana’s surface transportation system due to traffic crashes through widespread collaboration and an integrated 4E approach. These partners are promoting an important vision for the Louisiana Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) and that is to reach Destination Zero Deaths on Louisiana roadways. We will reach this vision by applying the mission of the SHSP which is to reduce the human and economic toll on Louisiana’s surface transportation system due to traffic crashes through widespread collaboration and an integrated 4E approach.

6. [ 5 ] Goal: Halve Fatalities by 2030 In order to reach our Destination of Zero Deaths, we have established a goal of cutting fatalities in half by 2030. If Australia can do it in ten years and France can do it in less, surely we can get there! To make sure we account for the randomness that can occur in traffic crashes year to year, we started with a three year average. As you can see, getting to a 50% reduction by 2030, gives us some interim goals. In order to reach our Destination of Zero Deaths, we have established a goal of cutting fatalities in half by 2030. If Australia can do it in ten years and France can do it in less, surely we can get there! To make sure we account for the randomness that can occur in traffic crashes year to year, we started with a three year average. As you can see, getting to a 50% reduction by 2030, gives us some interim goals.

7. Interim Goals 2008 – 965 (3 year average) 2015 – 845 2020 – 724 2025 – 608 2030 – 483 For example, our goal for 2015 is 845 fatalities. Of course, it is not acceptable for 845 people to die on our roadways and we will work as hard as we can to get those numbers lower, but we need some guidepotsts to get us to zero deaths. For example, our goal for 2015 is 845 fatalities. Of course, it is not acceptable for 845 people to die on our roadways and we will work as hard as we can to get those numbers lower, but we need some guidepotsts to get us to zero deaths.

8. Emphasis Area Selection Decision Rules Data Availability Countermeasure Effectiveness Resource Requirements Once our overall goal was established, we needed to take a close look at where we wanted to focus our efforts. Rather than focusing a little effort in a lot of areas, we wanted to make sure we targeted our efforts by selecting the right emphasis areas. Emphasis areas are where Louisiana is experiencing a large number of fatalities and serious injuries compared to other areas. In selecting these areas, we asked ourselves some pointed questions. Are the data available to clearly define the size of the problem and identify the contributing crash factors? Which programs and projects hold the greatest potential for reducing fatalities and serious injuries? And Does the State have access to the resources for implementing the proven effective countermeasures? And by resources, we mean more than just funding – we also need leadership, data, collaboration, boots on the ground, and other resources to achieve success. Once our overall goal was established, we needed to take a close look at where we wanted to focus our efforts. Rather than focusing a little effort in a lot of areas, we wanted to make sure we targeted our efforts by selecting the right emphasis areas. Emphasis areas are where Louisiana is experiencing a large number of fatalities and serious injuries compared to other areas. In selecting these areas, we asked ourselves some pointed questions. Are the data available to clearly define the size of the problem and identify the contributing crash factors? Which programs and projects hold the greatest potential for reducing fatalities and serious injuries? And Does the State have access to the resources for implementing the proven effective countermeasures? And by resources, we mean more than just funding – we also need leadership, data, collaboration, boots on the ground, and other resources to achieve success.

9. Safety Accomplishments 8% decrease in crash-related fatalities from 2007 to 2008. Safety training Median cable barrier Rural road safety improvement Low cost safety improvements in Pavement preservation projects From 2007 to 2008, we saw an 8% decline in fatalities and it appears we will realize even more reductions in 2009. So, how did we get there? Of course the economic downturn had something to do with the reduction. We did experience a small reduction in vehicle miles of travel and it does appear that certain vulnerable populations, such as younger and older drivers, drove fewer miles than the rest of the population, but we don’t know for sure what has caused these reductions. We’ve also been doing a lot of training the past few years. Louisiana has conducted workshops on the fundamentals of road safety for all our partners (Road Safety 101 alumnae please stand up!) and specifically for the MPOs (MPO workshop attendees, please stand up!). We’re also hosting safety training on roadway departure and intersection crashes. In addition, the DOTD has begun installing median cable barrier to prevent cross over crashes; developed a rural road safety program; and are incorporating low cost safety improvements in our pavement preservation projects. From 2007 to 2008, we saw an 8% decline in fatalities and it appears we will realize even more reductions in 2009. So, how did we get there? Of course the economic downturn had something to do with the reduction. We did experience a small reduction in vehicle miles of travel and it does appear that certain vulnerable populations, such as younger and older drivers, drove fewer miles than the rest of the population, but we don’t know for sure what has caused these reductions. We’ve also been doing a lot of training the past few years. Louisiana has conducted workshops on the fundamentals of road safety for all our partners (Road Safety 101 alumnae please stand up!) and specifically for the MPOs (MPO workshop attendees, please stand up!). We’re also hosting safety training on roadway departure and intersection crashes. In addition, the DOTD has begun installing median cable barrier to prevent cross over crashes; developed a rural road safety program; and are incorporating low cost safety improvements in our pavement preservation projects.

10. Safety Accomplishments The Louisiana Local Road Safety Program (LRSP) Legislative accomplishments Safety belt extended to all occupants Slow vehicles in the left lane Safety zone around bicyclists Penalties for driving under suspension License suspension administrative hearings Mandatory motorcycle helmet We have developed the local road safety program that is led by LA LTAP. And we have celebrated several legislative victories as well The mandatory safety belt law has been extended to all seating positions Vehicles can no longer just stay in the left lane if they are moving slower than right lane. We have established a 3 foot safety zone for bicyclists Penalties were increased for driving under a suspended license The process for administrative hearing regarding administrative license revocation s made easier, and An attempt to repeal the helmet law was defeated. We have developed the local road safety program that is led by LA LTAP. And we have celebrated several legislative victories as well The mandatory safety belt law has been extended to all seating positions Vehicles can no longer just stay in the left lane if they are moving slower than right lane. We have established a 3 foot safety zone for bicyclists Penalties were increased for driving under a suspended license The process for administrative hearing regarding administrative license revocation s made easier, and An attempt to repeal the helmet law was defeated.

11. Contributing Factors Keeping our decision making process in mind, we reexamined all the emphasis areas from the original SHSP which included: Belt non-use/unrestrained motorists * Speeding and aggressive driving Alcohol related driving * Roadway departure crashes Young drivers * Intersection crashes Large trucks * Pedestrians Older drivers * Motorcyclists Bicyclists * Rail highway grade intersections Rail highway grade intersdctions. It’s pretty easy to pick out the “vital few” from this chart. Most crashes involve more than a single factor. In 85% of driver fatalities, the major causes include failure to use safety belts, speeding and aggressive driving, and/or alcohol impaired driving. This is close to the Pareto Principle – 80% of the problem is attributable to 20% of the population. Our update is focused on separating the vital few from the trivial many.Keeping our decision making process in mind, we reexamined all the emphasis areas from the original SHSP which included: Belt non-use/unrestrained motorists * Speeding and aggressive driving Alcohol related driving * Roadway departure crashes Young drivers * Intersection crashes Large trucks * Pedestrians Older drivers * Motorcyclists Bicyclists * Rail highway grade intersections Rail highway grade intersdctions. It’s pretty easy to pick out the “vital few” from this chart. Most crashes involve more than a single factor. In 85% of driver fatalities, the major causes include failure to use safety belts, speeding and aggressive driving, and/or alcohol impaired driving. This is close to the Pareto Principle – 80% of the problem is attributable to 20% of the population. Our update is focused on separating the vital few from the trivial many.

12. 2010 SHSP Emphasis Areas Alcohol Impaired Driving Occupant Protection Infrastructure and Operations Crashes Involving Young Drivers Based on analysis of the data and other considerations, DOTD, LHSC, and the Louisiana State Police (LSP) recommended adoption of four emphasis areas for focusing attention, energy, and resources. Alcohol Impaired Driving Occupant Protection Infrastructure and Operations Crashes Involving Young DriversBased on analysis of the data and other considerations, DOTD, LHSC, and the Louisiana State Police (LSP) recommended adoption of four emphasis areas for focusing attention, energy, and resources. Alcohol Impaired Driving Occupant Protection Infrastructure and Operations Crashes Involving Young Drivers

13. Task Forces Subjects Speeding and Aggressive Driving Distracted and Inattentive Driving Responsibilities Determine analysis methods Collaborate with the law enforcement community Identify effective countermeasures Two significant problem areas not included as emphasis areas are speeding/?aggressive driving and distracted/?inattentive driving. These areas will be addressed by task forces over the coming months to: 1)  determine appropriate methods for analyzing the data to develop a clear picture of the problem, 2) work with the law enforcement community to ensure crash reports are coded appropriately, and 3) identify effective countermeasures. Members of the Stakeholder Group that we mentioned earlier have signed up to serve on emphasis area teams and the task forces. Anyone in this audience who is interested in volunteering some time to help any of these teams is more than welcome. Later today, you will see a “commitment card” and we encourage you to sign up and become a part of something magic. Two significant problem areas not included as emphasis areas are speeding/?aggressive driving and distracted/?inattentive driving. These areas will be addressed by task forces over the coming months to: 1)  determine appropriate methods for analyzing the data to develop a clear picture of the problem, 2) work with the law enforcement community to ensure crash reports are coded appropriately, and 3) identify effective countermeasures. Members of the Stakeholder Group that we mentioned earlier have signed up to serve on emphasis area teams and the task forces. Anyone in this audience who is interested in volunteering some time to help any of these teams is more than welcome. Later today, you will see a “commitment card” and we encourage you to sign up and become a part of something magic.

14. Next Steps Select strategies Data driven Proven effective Evidence based Evaluation Develop action plans Emphasis area teams Task forces Regional safety action teams The next steps are to select strategies and action steps. In selecting strategies it is important to make sure the strategy is Data driven (are data available to support strategy effectiveness?); Evidence based (Does the professional and scientific literature conclude the strategies are effective?); and Evaluation (If we don’t have evidence of effectiveness we must plan to evaluate the strategy over time to continue its use.) We’ve already considered and selected many strategies that are included in your handout. We started with strategies already in place or planned in the near future (see the sections titled what are we doing now?). The Stakeholder meeting produced several additional recommended strategies and those are still under consideration (see the sections titled What do we plan to do in the future/). We may add, delete, and/or fine tune the strategies based on your input from this summit. The next step is to develop detailed action plans for implementing each of the strategies. Eventually, we hope to have statewide and regional action plans to guide us to our Destination Zero Deaths. The next steps are to select strategies and action steps. In selecting strategies it is important to make sure the strategy is Data driven (are data available to support strategy effectiveness?); Evidence based (Does the professional and scientific literature conclude the strategies are effective?); and Evaluation (If we don’t have evidence of effectiveness we must plan to evaluate the strategy over time to continue its use.) We’ve already considered and selected many strategies that are included in your handout. We started with strategies already in place or planned in the near future (see the sections titled what are we doing now?). The Stakeholder meeting produced several additional recommended strategies and those are still under consideration (see the sections titled What do we plan to do in the future/). We may add, delete, and/or fine tune the strategies based on your input from this summit. The next step is to develop detailed action plans for implementing each of the strategies. Eventually, we hope to have statewide and regional action plans to guide us to our Destination Zero Deaths.

15. Alcohol Impaired Driving Let’s look at each of these emphasis areas now in a little more detail. Nearly half of all fatalities on Louisiana roadways involved at least one driver who had too much to drink. That is unacceptable! Louisiana is well known for it’s “festive” atmosphere. Everyone in this room understands “Le Bon Temps Rouler,” but we need to change the culture where enjoying the good times involves drinking and driving. There is no good reason to drink and drive – period! Let’s look at each of these emphasis areas now in a little more detail. Nearly half of all fatalities on Louisiana roadways involved at least one driver who had too much to drink. That is unacceptable! Louisiana is well known for it’s “festive” atmosphere. Everyone in this room understands “Le Bon Temps Rouler,” but we need to change the culture where enjoying the good times involves drinking and driving. There is no good reason to drink and drive – period!

16. Occupant Protection We can also really make a difference if we can improve safety belt use. Look at this slide! Our use rate is 75% which is below the national average. We have the advantage of a primary belt law which means law enforcement can pull an offender over for failure to wear a belt! In secondary law states, law enforcement has to find another excuse to pull offenders over such as speeding before they can issue a safety belt violation. In secondary law states, law enforcement is obviously at a big disadvantage compared to primary law states. However, even those states on average do better than we do. We must make a change and that starts right here, right now. Each of everyone of us in this room commits to buckle up – every trip, every time.. And, let’s make sure our families, colleagues, friends, and everyone else in our vehicles do the same. The wheels don’t roll until everyone is buckled up. We can also really make a difference if we can improve safety belt use. Look at this slide! Our use rate is 75% which is below the national average. We have the advantage of a primary belt law which means law enforcement can pull an offender over for failure to wear a belt! In secondary law states, law enforcement has to find another excuse to pull offenders over such as speeding before they can issue a safety belt violation. In secondary law states, law enforcement is obviously at a big disadvantage compared to primary law states. However, even those states on average do better than we do. We must make a change and that starts right here, right now. Each of everyone of us in this room commits to buckle up – every trip, every time.. And, let’s make sure our families, colleagues, friends, and everyone else in our vehicles do the same. The wheels don’t roll until everyone is buckled up.

17. Roadway Departure One of the emphasis areas is labeled infrastructure and operations. The focus of that EA is on roadway departure crashes and intersection crashes. More than two of every five fatal crashes involve leaving the roadway and either running off the road to the right or across the median to the left. Nearly a third of the serious injury crashes also involve roadway departure. One of the emphasis areas is labeled infrastructure and operations. The focus of that EA is on roadway departure crashes and intersection crashes. More than two of every five fatal crashes involve leaving the roadway and either running off the road to the right or across the median to the left. Nearly a third of the serious injury crashes also involve roadway departure.

18. Intersections Crashes at intersections account for 17% of our fatalities and nearly 40% of our serious injuries. Why do you suppose those numbers flip from roadway departure crashes? It is obvious – intersection crashes generally occur at lower speeds but due to the many conflict points and congestion, many more intersection crashes occur which produces more injuries. Crashes at intersections account for 17% of our fatalities and nearly 40% of our serious injuries. Why do you suppose those numbers flip from roadway departure crashes? It is obvious – intersection crashes generally occur at lower speeds but due to the many conflict points and congestion, many more intersection crashes occur which produces more injuries.

19. Young Drivers As you can see on this slide, from 2006 to 2008, drivers age 15 to 24 comprised 15.3 percent of all licensed drivers in Louisiana yet 24.2 percent of fatal crashes involved drivers from this age group. As you can see from your handout, many strategies are underway and more have been proposed to address this emphasis area. It is an important area. The young drivers of today are the adult drivers of tomorrow and it makes sense to instill good and safe driving habits early. As you can see on this slide, from 2006 to 2008, drivers age 15 to 24 comprised 15.3 percent of all licensed drivers in Louisiana yet 24.2 percent of fatal crashes involved drivers from this age group. As you can see from your handout, many strategies are underway and more have been proposed to address this emphasis area. It is an important area. The young drivers of today are the adult drivers of tomorrow and it makes sense to instill good and safe driving habits early.

20. Performance Management Performance management is a critical element of the SHSP. We want to be able to measure our effectiveness. Leading that effort will be the Project Management Team which includes the DOTD, LSP, and LHSC. The SHSP Implementation Team will work with the project management team to develop and implement action plans for each of the SHSP strategies. Action plans will outline the appropriate steps, assign responsibility, and suggest a timeline for implementation. These plans will become addenda to the updated SHSP. In addition to this statewide effort, we are going mobile and promoting implementation at the regional and local level. The project management team will work with Regional Highway Safety Coalitions to identify local safety needs related to the SHSP emphasis areas, assist with development of regional safety action plans, and provide technical and administrative support to facilitate implementation of these plans. The project management team will assume responsibility for tracking overall SHSP strategy implementation via the OnTrack tool and conducting regular data analyses to determine if these actions are having the desired result of decreasing fatalities and serious injuries on Louisiana roadways. Process performance measures also will be tracked, such as the number of countermeasures under­way, completed, or not started. As with any plan, leadership is the key element to successful implementation. LDOTD, LHSC, and LSP are already reaching out to numerous highway safety partners to identify practitioners who can help lead the state and regional initiatives. Performance management is a critical element of the SHSP. We want to be able to measure our effectiveness. Leading that effort will be the Project Management Team which includes the DOTD, LSP, and LHSC. The SHSP Implementation Team will work with the project management team to develop and implement action plans for each of the SHSP strategies. Action plans will outline the appropriate steps, assign responsibility, and suggest a timeline for implementation. These plans will become addenda to the updated SHSP. In addition to this statewide effort, we are going mobile and promoting implementation at the regional and local level. The project management team will work with Regional Highway Safety Coalitions to identify local safety needs related to the SHSP emphasis areas, assist with development of regional safety action plans, and provide technical and administrative support to facilitate implementation of these plans. The project management team will assume responsibility for tracking overall SHSP strategy implementation via the OnTrack tool and conducting regular data analyses to determine if these actions are having the desired result of decreasing fatalities and serious injuries on Louisiana roadways. Process performance measures also will be tracked, such as the number of countermeasures under­way, completed, or not started. As with any plan, leadership is the key element to successful implementation. LDOTD, LHSC, and LSP are already reaching out to numerous highway safety partners to identify practitioners who can help lead the state and regional initiatives.

21. [ 20 ] Accept the Call to Action All it takes is EVERYONE Reaching our goals will not be difficult. All it takes is everyone and it starts right here in this room. We need to become the role models – Slow Down, Drive Sober, and always Buckle Up! Think about it this way – the reason we come to work every day is to make sure our families, friends, and colleagues get home safely every night. Let’s make sure that happens. Reaching our goals will not be difficult. All it takes is everyone and it starts right here in this room. We need to become the role models – Slow Down, Drive Sober, and always Buckle Up! Think about it this way – the reason we come to work every day is to make sure our families, friends, and colleagues get home safely every night. Let’s make sure that happens.

22. Your Turn Does anyone have any questions or comments? Does anyone have any questions or comments?