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                        Improving Safety on Rural Local and Tribal Roads Safety Toolkit


            
            In This Section
        Local and Rural Road Safety Program
                Training, Tools, Guidance and Countermeasures for Locals Practitioners
                Crash Facts
                
                Step 3. Select Sites for Investigation
Step 3. Select Sites for Investigation

Overview

The outcome of a network screening activity (Step 2) is either a list of high crash locations or a crash map. In an ideal situation, every identified site would be analyzed in more detail. However, due to time and resource constraints, it may not be possible to study all sites in depth. In this step, the locations identified in Step 2 (network screening) are reviewed and evaluated to determine which of them should be selected for detailed analysis (Steps 4 through 7). Selecting sites for detailed analyses will be a qualitative process and will rely on considerations like relative severity and frequency of crashes at the site, traffic volumes, stakeholder concerns, potential solutions. While not an exhaustive list at all, some reasons to select a site for more detailed analysis could be:

The site is ranked high on a screening list when using quantitative screening criteria – e.g., crashes, crash rates;
	There is a grant funding program targeted at issues comparable to those expected at the site;
	There is an upcoming maintenance or construction project in the vicinity of the site where the safety improvement could be integrated into the project;
	Improving the site would be consistent with other agency plans, policies or programs; or
	Of the crashes that have occurred, a large proportion have resulted in fatalities or serious injuries.Application

The number of sites selected for detailed analysis depends greatly on the staff or consultant resources available to the agency as well as the extent to which the agency can fund corrective actions. A site summary selection process example is shown in Table 4. The table displays the types of information practitioners might consider in the site selection process, i.e., background data, evaluation considerations, and the results of site evaluation and prioritization processes. Note that Location D would rank high based on network screening using crash rates, however in this hypothetical it is not selected for further investigation for two reasons: 1) the traffic volume through the intersection is extremely low; and 2) there was only one crash at this location and it was a property damage only crash. Therefore, relatively speaking, there is no significant issue at this site. This example also demonstrates how the best use for crash rates is when the sites have comparable traffic volumes and comparable roadway characteristics.

**Documentation**

It is important to document safety analysis findings. Documentation allows others to verify the findings and to repeat the activity again in the future.

Site selection can be finalized collaboratively among staff familiar with the community, or determined by the responsible staff member. Site selection decisions should be documented by noting which sites were and were not selected as well as the reasons behind the decision. Community members or stakeholders familiar with the safety issues also can provide valuable input to the site selection process. If there is sufficient interest, a standing community traffic safety committee could be organized to provide input and advocate for traffic safety. User Guide #2 provides a detailed example of the site selection process across multiple sites.

Table 4. Example Summary of Site Selection Process
	Location
			Total Crashes (Three-Year Period)
			ADT (Does not change over the three-year period)
			Three-Year Average Crash Rate (Crashes/MEV)
			Evaluation Considerations
			Selected?
			ExplanationA
			8
			10,000
			0.73
			Traffic signal being installed this summer
			No
			Signal may address current crash issues. Reevaluate after signal installationB
			6
			8,000
			0.68
			Some of the crashes are severe, site is in downtown redevelopment district
			Yes
			Relatively high crash severity and intersection modification may be consistent with community plansC
			4
			2,000
			1.83
			Low-severity crashes, Staff is familiar with issue, landscaping may address issue
			Yes
			If landscaping addresses issue, low-cost easy improvementD
			1
			50
			18.26
			Low volume, PDO crash
			No
			Extremely low volume and low severity crash. Monitor to see if trends change
      
  Book traversal links for Step 3. Select Sites for Investigation
      ‹ Step 2. Conduct Network Screening
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                    Step 4. Diagnose Site Crash Conditions and Identify Countermeasures ›
                
                Book:Improving Safety on Rural Local and Tribal Roads Safety Toolkit
              Introduction
                How to Use the Toolkit and User Guides
                Step 1. Compile Data and Resources
                Step 2. Conduct Network Screening
                Step 3. Select Sites for Investigation
                Step 4. Diagnose Site Crash Conditions and Identify Countermeasures
                Step 5. Prioritize Countermeasures for Implementation
                Step 6. Implement Countermeasures
                Step 7. Evaluate Effectiveness
                Conclusion U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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