Meeting Minutes Thursday, 10/26/2015 – Augusta, Maine
Attendees: Patty Morneault, Eric Fuller, Shawn Currie, Lauren Stewart, Thomas Reagan, Paul Niehoff, Nancy Grant, Dwight Hines,
Linda Grant, Greg Stone, Dottie Muchmore, David Leavitt, Brian Lawrence, Mike Allen, Lorry Plante, Duane Brunell, Bruce Scott,
James Tanner, Alan Vitcavage, Michelle Ward, Katharyn Zwicker
Welcome and Introductions
Business Meeting
 September Minutes: Lauren motion to pass. Alan 2nd. Minutes accepted with edits to Sharisse Roberts incorrectly identified as
working for the IRIS Network. She is a state employee with the DBVI (division for blind and visually impaired).
 Treasurer’s: James motion to accept. Eric 2nd. Treasurer’s Report accepted.
 Planning: Brian: 2016 Northeast Transportation Safety Conference in Worcester, Massachusetts. Next planning meeting in
January – still opportunities to provide input to the venue.
 Data: Duane: Presented 2014 data at Driving Dynamics. Will be publishing 2016 update soon and then every other year. Stated
the school bus crash data available.
Your Transportation Safety Happenings
James:
 Annual report due December 31.
 Speed enforcement details – working to ramp up numbers of law enforcement agencies taking part.
 Dale Gilbert hired. Responsible for oversight of Maine Driving Dynamics, participating in Older Drivers Task Force –
working to develop resources for Mainers, families, doctors, older drivers that include transportation options in Maine.
Nancy Grant
 Continue to need additional resources – the stats don’t tell the full story
 Many new bike users
 Safety Summit in November with MDOT – working to develop a plan by April
 Jim Tassey piloted three bike trainings for MDOT staff (engineers) using Kennebec Rail Trail – to increase sensitivity to
safety needs and the need for new designs
Michelle: Closing 2014 grants and creating 2016 grants for federal motor carriers, BHS, and Maine State Police
Duane: Wrong way signage in Freeport Exit 22 I95. Determining need for a second. Red rapid flashing beacons southbound at
Freeport. Rhode Island working through quirks since extensive installations. Distributed AAA brochures.
Linda G.: Motorcycle Secretary of State grant – 101 students goes through drivers coarse – refreshing skills – certified by Motorcycle
Safety Foundation
 Considering legislation to recommend / address what’s considered impaired
 November – establish rulemaking panel – will include bicycle safety aspects
Greg: Traffic Report Safety & Capacities Study will be available online. Address crash locations-intersections that feed it – strategize
for improvement.
 Clear zone improvements to increase visibility and recover off road
Dottie: Regional safety conferences being held in April. Annual conference at Sugarloaf in July
 AAA to attend & educate on distracted and defensive driving. Vehicles passing stopped busses still huge issue. Educating
drivers and students how to cross properly.
David: Dept. of Education and State Police training
Brian: Greg Nadeau new Federal Coordinator – to address “Beyond Traffic-Next 30 Years” – Transportation for all users. Logn range
planning - Maine is pilot site
 Systematic approach to safety – every day counts initiative – predictive modeling of where crashes will happen – looking at
risk factors for roads. Help determine where to direct funds based on risks. To be presented at Transportation Safety Conf.
 Minor changes to SHSP
Patty: Sec. Dunlap toured schools during Teen Driver Safety Week with the AT&T “It Can Wait” Campaign
 Engineers at MDOT – GIS mapping system for overweight permits
 Tasked to study by legislature: Alternative vehicles – recommend strategies – wait and see what feds recommend
 Revision of functional ability profile – submitting for changes in regulation
 Motor-carrier Review Board process – safety of truckers – suspending of credentials
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Eric: Unknown specific causes for increase in motorcycle crashes – Possible factors: longer m/c season, new hot top, riding beyond
skills/weather and change in m/c size, more people over 45 years of age riding as well as the 18-22 year olds.
 3-wheeled very dangerous – trying to bypass federal regulations
 UB of Maine – new safety and education officer to be named.
Shawn: Operation Safe Driver completed
 The worst first – carriers with worst safety records not in Maine
 Bus and Truck enforcement outreach free training class with state police and Maine chiefs – look at high crash
Alan: 2016 grants under review
 State Police: Safety audits – now go to carriers. New Entrant Work Study – now emailing – not having to travel to do audits
Bruce: OUI / Drug Recognition Staffer renewal for Year 2.
 Escort demand is up. Requests to double
 PSA for spring to address motorcycles – working to establish m/c committee
 Seatbelt / OUI / Distracted driving details continue
 Increased marking on l/e vehicles to increase visibility
Lorry: Updating SHSP facts, running motor vehicle crash queries, and participating in Mature Drivers Study with Dan Onion and
round-abouts – to determine if increase in number of incidents exists involving older adults.
Lauren: Maine 2015 highest – 85.5% observed usage rate of seatbelts
 www.gsa.org – materials for teen drivers “under the influence”
Mike: Work zone safety simulations – weather, bike, walking. Mainers evaluating fluorescent signs. Design Guide: Vulnerable users
by MassDOT. NH Bike Summit -Rail Trail symbols.
Paul: Audit Portland to Falmouth to address bike/ped/speed concerns
 10/27 meeting with Falmouth and MDOT to discuss Maine – 1 of 36 states Road Safety Audit participants
 Federal highway doing certification audit
 Safety Summit 11/17
Next MTSC Meeting Monday, February 22, 2016 at 9:30
Champlain Room – Central Maine Commerce Center - Augusta
Wishing you and yours…
And a …
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