Advancing Highway Safety in the U.S.
Michael Halladay, DirectorFHWA Office of Safety Integration
Federal Highway Administration
Border to Border Transportation Conference
McAllen, Texas; April 19, 2007
April 19, 2007 US DOT / FHWA 2
Mary Peters U.S. Secretary of Transportation
“The American people rely on the DOT to maintain a safe, reliable and efficient transportation system.”
“At the top of the list, always, is making travel safer”
Working as a team, we can succeed in making our infrastructure safer, easier, and more efficient for all Americans
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0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
fata
litie
s
0
1
2
3
fata
lity
rate
per
100
M
VM
T
44,599
43,443*
2.08
1.45
Motor Vehicle Fatality Rate in U.S. No Longer Declining
* NHTSA FARS-- 8/2006
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Interstate &Other Freeway
Local Roads
Collectors
7,718 7,358
18,047
8,698
Arterials
Fatatity Rate per 100M VMT (1998)
0.9
1.6
2.2 2.1
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Interstate/Freew ay Arterial Collector Local Road
Roadway Functional Class
Fata
lity
Rate
Numbers of fatalities
Fatality Rates
Interstates Collectors Arterials Locals
Where Fatalities Occur
2002
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The Rural Challenge
Rural Roads make up 78% of US road miles 3.1 million of the 3.9 million miles of roads
Locals own 79% of the rural road miles Only 661,000 miles owned by States
Less than half the VMT 39% of travel
More than half the deaths 61% of fatalities
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Fatalities in Select Categories - 2003
Suspended/Revoked Licenses 6,973 Aggressive/Speeding Drivers 15,555 Impaired Drivers 17,013 Safety Belts 18,019 Pedestrian 4,749 Motorcyclist 3,661 Heavy Trucks 4,986 Intersections 6,903 Run-off-the-Road 18,781
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Strategic Approach to Safety
Strategic Highway Safety Plans Comprehensive; “4E” Approach
EngineeringEnforcementEducationEmergency Medical Services
Consider Needs of All Roadways
Data Driven Decision Making
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FHWA’s “Vital Few” for Safety
• Roadway Departure 58%
• Intersection 21%
• Pedestrian 11%
• Speeding (2008) 30%
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Roadway Departure Solutions
Crashworthy Devices
Removing Roadside Hazards
Rumble Strips
Improved Visibility
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Intersection Solutions
Intersection Design & Enforcement
Roundabouts
National Intersection Agenda
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Pedestrian Solutions
Engineering Outreach Campaign
Engineering and ITS-Based Countermeasures
Engineering and ITS-Based Countermeasures
Safer Journey CD
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Other Safety Programs
Speed Management
Railway Highway Crossings
Work Zone Safety
Older Road Users
Motorcyclists
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Sharing Safety Technologies
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Success Factors
Top Leadership Commitment Organizational capacity Funds to achieve safety objectives
Data-Driven Decision Making Comprehensive Mix of Solutions Flexibility in Directing
Investments Focus on Regulatory / Policy
Actions Focus on Enforcement
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“The care of human life & happiness…is the first and only objective of good government”
Thomas Jefferson
23-29 April 2007 - First United Nations Global Road Safety Week
Thank You for Your Participation!