# Presentation: 918370

## Traffic Safetyin the United States

- Frederick (“Bud”) Wright
- Safety Program Director
- Federal Highway Administration
- U.S. Department of Transportation

- Traffic Safety on Three Continents
- 19-21 September 2001
- Moscow, Russia

## Traffic Safety in the US	Synopsis of Topics

- Roadway Safety Trends in the US
- Institutional Framework for Traffic Safety
- Principal Program Focus Areas
- Key Innovations and Advances

## U.S. Highway Safety

**U.S. Highway System Is Among the World’s Safest.....**
**However....**
**Still experiencing over 41,000 deaths and 3 million injuries per year**
**Annual cost of highway crashes estimated at more than three times the total amount spent on road maintenance and operation **

**Notes:**
Crashes continue to be a serious highway safety problem.  They cause enormous personal loss for victims and their families.  They cost society approximately $150 billion per year.  The annual cost of these crashes is more than three times the amount Federal, State, and local governments spend to maintain and operate roads each year.

## Over the Years ... Odds of Dying in a Traffic Crash in America Decreasing

***Deaths per 100,000 people***

## Annual Traffic DeathsMileage death rate reduced more than 70% since 1966

**Actual Fatalities**

**Projected at 1966 Rate**

## Institutional Framework for Traffic Safety in U.S.

**Federal - National Programs & Policies**
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
**State – Own & Operate State System**
- State DOTs
- Traffic Safety: Enforcement & Education
**Local – Own & Operate Local Roads Network**
- Over 35,000 Entities
- Lower-class roadways; small staffs for transportation
**Professional / Academic Institutions**
**Private Sector**

## ConstraintsInstitutional / Demographic / Policy

- 50 States, each with its own laws and programs
- Increasing passenger motor vehicle travel
- Scarce resources
- Some conflicts between public safety and individual rights

## Safety Program Delivery byUS DOT 

**MECHANISMS**
- National Leadership and Advocacy
- Technical Assistance
- Funding Support
- Research & Technology
- Training
- Data Analysis/Policy Formulation
- Public Information and Education

**PARTNERSHIPS**
- Within US DOT
- NHTSA
- FHWA
- FMCSA
- FRA
- External
- States (AASHTO, DOTs, Governors’ Safety Representatives)
- Local Governments
- Safety Advocacy Groups
- Private Firms
- Industry & Professional Associations

## Principle Program Focus Areas          Implementing the 3E’s

**Education & Enforcement ****(with focus on high risk populations)**
- Non-users of seat belts
- Drinking drivers
- Teens and young adults
- Rural operators of light trucks
- Non-users of motorcycle helmets
**Engineering & Operations**
- Run-Off-Road, Speed-Related, Intersection, & Ped/Bike Crashes
**Truck & Bus Safety**

## Seat Belt Use TrendsSeat belt use up from 15% in 1982 to 73% at present 

## Progress with Seat Belts

- Passage of State laws
- Strong private sector support
- Nationwide law enforcement mobilizations
- Paid advertising
- New funding to States

## Alcohol-Related FatalitiesDeaths in alcohol-related crashes down more than 35 percent since 1982 

**Source:  FARS**

## Progress with Impaired Driving

- Citizen activism
- Significant improvements to laws
- Significant improvements to enforcement technology
- Changing public attitude
- New funding to States

## What Works

- Strict laws
- Strict enforcement
- Intense publicity about the enforcement
- Visible public and political support

## Engineering / OperationsMajor Contributing Factors to Fatalities

**Single Vehicle Run-Off-Road****	****- 38 % **
**Speeding Related****	****	****	****- 30 %**
**Intersections****	****	****	****	****- 23 % **
**Pedestrian and Bicyclist****	****	****- 13 % **
**(Source: 1999 FARS data)**

**Factors Present in Crashes which Result in Fatalities:**

## Run-Off-Road Crashes

- Crashworthy Devices

- Removing Roadside Hazards

- Rumble Strips

- Improved Visibility

## Intersection; Speeding;Pedestrian & Bicyclist Crashes

- Intersection Design & Enforcement

- Safety Features for Pedestrians and Bicyclists

- Variable
- Speed Limits

## Truck & Bus Safety

- Commercial Drivers
- Training & Medical Qualifications
- Hours of Service
- Commercial Vehicles
- Quality of Maintenance Programs
- Fitness for Operations
- Motor Carrier Safety Management Practices
- Carrier-Based Safety Systems
- Data Collection & Analysis

## Key Innovations and Advances

- Research & Development
- Safety Engineering Design Tools
- Maximize Effectiveness of Roadway Safety Features
- Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
- Human Factors: Education, Driver Distraction, Aggressive Driving
- Crash Data Quality & Analysis
- Public & Political Support for Traffic Safety