The Metropolitan Houston Traffic Safety ProgramHouston-Galveston Area CouncilHouston, TX

1998-2000: Houston region - 243,616 serious crashes inc. 1,793 fatalities and 274,926 persons injured

The region accounted for:

26% of all statewide crashes27% of all statewide injury crashes 17% of all statewide fatal crashes

The region has 22% of the statewide populationand, approximately, 21% of the statewide VMT

Likelihood of a fatal or injury crash was: 36% higher than statewide average145% higher than national average

Seriousness of Problem

Purpose of the ProgramBuild a traffic safety program that can reduce crashesMap the crashesIdentify hazardous locations and areaConduct the necessary preliminary engineeringImplement roadway improvementsIdentify funding sourcesLeverage local investment with State and Federal fundsSupport other safety effortsEnforcementEducationSafety partnerships

Program Implemented Through Tasks

Task: Build a GIS-based Crash Information SystemObtained crash data for entire system State roads Local roads

Obtain data on an annual basis

Developed geo-referencing methodology

Added supplementary data sets (VMT)

Developed crash analysis tools

Task: Identify Conditions Affecting Crashes Improper driving behavior

High-risk population

High-risk cities & counties

High crash roadways and intersections (hot spots)

High-risk Behaviors: 1998-2000RegionU.S.*Speeding39%13% Failing to yield20%19% Failing to stop11% 9% Running a red light 8% 5% DUI 7% 7%(However, involved in 37% of fatal crashes/39% nationally) Following too close 3% 3% Improper turn 2% 2%

* National Safety Council. U.S. average for 1999. Fatal and injury crashes only

High-risk PopulationsRegionU.S.* Teenagers21%16%(9% of driving age population/5% nationally17% in fatal crashes /14% nationally19% in incapacitating injury crashes)

Elderly (65+) 8%8%(9% of driving age population/13% nationally11% in fatal crashes/13% nationally9% in incapacitating injury crashes)

Male drivers79% -(Compared to 58% for females1.7 times more likely to be in fatal crash/1.4 nationally)

Pickup truck drivers31%31%(More likely to be involved in DUI crash)

* National Safety Council. U.S. average for 1999. All crashes.

City Crash Risk(Crashes Per 100 Million VMT)CityCrash riskGalveston 337Baytown 334Rosenberg 320Pasadena 290Conroe 247Houston 231Texas City 211

Task: Conduct Safety Studies Identify hazardous locations

Partner with local government, TxDOT

Conduct engineering study

Make mitigation recommendations

Mitigate hot spot

Have identified areas that are hazardous for pedestrians and bicyclists (hot spots)

Information is used for bike/ped planning

Examine sidewalk, traffic control and pedestrianflow dynamics to identify mitigation measures

Task: Improve Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

Truck crashes a major problem

27% of the States truck crashes

Information provided on location of crashes

Support Houston Police Departmentstruck weighing efforts

TxDOT has implemented no truck inleft lane policies on several freewaysTask: Improve Truck Safety

Have identified 344 major crash hot spots(78+ crashes between 1998-2000)

Estimating benefits and costs of mitigating

Programming into RTPTask: Develop Strategic Safety Plan

Costs and Benefits of Hot Spot Mitigation (Preliminary)AnnualNumber Estimated EstimatedType of Facility Numberof Crashes Cost to Mitigate Annual Benefit Freeway 150 7,766 $75 million$58 millionIntersection betweenfreeway & arterial road 70 3,756 $35 million$28 millionArterial road 124 4,930 $62 million$37 million

Other Safety Activities Safety servicesTrain local planners in safety planningSafety courses for judges, Mayors, etc.Provide safety materials for schools

Safety partnershipsGovernmental (TxDOT, DPS, local jurisdictions)Private, non-profit (AAA, insurance, associations)Community groups

Promoting good design principlesReview project designs for safetyEncourage constituents to include safety in design