SESSION 356Road Assessment Programs:

New Approaches to Highway Safety Programs

January 22, 2007

Imagine a Day When…

• Road authorities can benchmark the relative risk of road segment in their jurisdiction

• Resources are allocated based on those risks

• Motorists can take these risks into account

• John Dawson – iRAP

• Peter Kissinger – AAA Foundation

• Doug Harwood – MRI

• Larry Tibbits - MDOT

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

• Established in 1947

• 501 (c) 3 Not-For-Profit

• Research Affiliate of AAA and AAA Motor Clubs

• North American Focus

Funded through the generosity of

and its members

Mission

• Identify traffic safety problems

• Foster research that seeks solutions

• Disseminate information and educational materials

usRAP Background• Unacceptably high socio-economic toll

from traffic crashes

• Culture of complacency

• Under-investment in safety

• Road safety management can be enhanced with more money & new tools

• Politics vs. evidence-based decisions

usRAP Background• Data limitations in many agencies

• Variation in analysis & evaluation tools

• Insufficient appreciation of relative contribution of vehicle, operator & road factors

• No system to assess road safety risks

• Little transparency

usRAP

• Inspired by EuroRAP

• Collaborate with EuroRAP and AusRAP through iRAP

usRAP Objectives• Help cut death and serious injury

rates through systematic risk assessment

• Ensure that strategic decisions are linked to risk assessment

• Forge partnerships among those responsible for a safe road system

usRAP Objectives (continued)

• Better information and guidance to motorists

• Improved crash data record systems

usRAP Pilot• Initiated in 2004

• Phase I pilot report (IA & MI) released 2006

• Phase II (FL & NJ) ongoing

• Phase III to be initiated in 2007– Continued expansion– RPS development– Risk communication

• Sponsor: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety FIA Foundation for the Automobile

& Society iRAP

• Research Team: Midwest Research Institute Iowa State University

usRAP Team

• AASHTO• AHU & RSF• ATSSA• Auto clubs• FHWA• ITE• NACE• Local highway agencies• State highway agencies

usRAP Advisory Panel

• Risk Mapping Maps of death and serious injury risk for road

users

• Road Protection Score Star rating based on inspecting road features

that protect users from serious injury or death

• Performance Tracking Comparisons of safety performance for

roadway sections over time

usRAP Protocols

Opportunities for Collaboration• AAAFTS partnerships with AASHTO,

State DOTs, and FHWA

• Periodic benchmarking Internal Public

• AAAFTS funding assistance to enhance road safety

• AAA support in state legislatures

For more information, please go to:

www.usrap.us