MICHIGAN’s
INITIATIVES
FOR
REDUCING
HIGHWAY
FATALITIES
Courtesy Dean Bowman, Bentley Systems
Courtesy Dean Bowman, Bentley Systems
MDOT Strategic Plan


Goal – “Enhance and continue to
improve safety within our transportation
systems and work place.”
Objective – “Continue to develop
partnerships to reduce fatal crash and
injury rates through a combination of
education, infrastructure improvements,
enforcement and technology.”
Michigan
annual fatalities
andStory
incapacitatin
Michigan
Success
uction from 1996 to 2006:
YEAR
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Fatalities
1,446
1,367
1,386
1,382
1,328
1,279
1,283
1,159
1,129
1,084
1,084
25%
28%
Incapacitating
Injuries
15291
14365
13002
11956
10530
10556
9920
9270
8486
7618
7485
54%
Michigan
Success
Story
Michigan annual fatalities and incapacitating injurie
rom 1996 to 2006:
rom 1997 to 2007:
YEAR
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Fatalities
1,446
1,367
1,386
1,382
1,328
1,279
1,283
1,159
1,129
1,084
1,084
28%
25%
Incapacitating
Injuries
15291
14365
13002
11956
10530
10556
9920
9270
8486
7618
7485
54%
51%
51%
Enforcement Michigan’s
Safety Belt –
Death Rate 1983-2005
100.0%
90.0%
80.0%
Michigan Safety Belt Use
2.4
Death Rate / 100 MVMT
2.2
70.0%
2.0
60.0%
AASHTO
National Goal
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
Seat Belt Law
Secondary Enforcement
1.8
1.6
1.4
Seat Belt Law
Primary Enforcement
0.0%
1.2
1.0
1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Safety Focus and $$$$

Trunkline Safety Program - $70M/Year



Local Safety Program - $15.2M/Year



$3M/Year Non-Freeway Rumble Strips
$14M/Rear Cable Median Barrier
Local Safety Program - $12.1M
High Risk Rural Roads - $3.1M
Dedicated Safety Funding - $85.2M/Year
Rural Highway Safety Issues


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Nationally about 60% of fatalities are rural
Majority of rural crashes are on two-lane
roads; half are off the state highway systems
Nationally, poor data on the local system
Inadequate roadways/Random crashes
Emergency Medical System limitations
Lack of enforcement personnel
High Safety Payoff / Problem Areas
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Alcohol – 40% of Fatals
Speed – 30 % of Fatals
Belts – 50% of Fatals unbelted
Motorcycles – 10% of Fatals;
double digit growth
Large Truck involved – 12% of Fatals
Highway Intersections – 25% of Fatals
Highway Lane Departure – 40 - 50% of
Fatals
Michigan Fatal Crashes
Trunkline vs. Local
Trunkline
Program
Lane Departure Focus
•
•
Nationally accounts for 40 –
50 percent of all fatalities
Many factors involved:




Drowsy driving
Distracted driving (cell
phones)
Weather issues (ice,
snow, poor visibility)
Driver confusion (signing,
pavement)
Michigan Single Vehicle
Lane Departure Fatal Crashes
380
376
364
Fatal Crashes
370
360
349
352
344
350
340
330
320
2002
2003
2004
Year
2005
2006
35%
Lane Departure Focus
Many countermeasures
proven effective
Satellite
(GPS)

DSRC/WiFi
Vehicle-to-Roadside



Rumble strips (edge and
center line)
Cable Barrier System
Quality Pavement Markings
Vehicle Infrastructure
Integration – Virtual rumble
strips based on global
positioning satellite technology
Michigan Experience
Non-Freeway rumble strips (edge and
centerline)
-
2008, 2009, 2010 - $3 million per year
- Anticipate 50% reduction in K and A crashes
(Targeting 16 Ks and 62 As per year)
Rumble Strips
Keep Drivers in Their Lane…
 Milled Freeway Rumbles
Drift-off Crashes I-75 (Grayling – Gaylord)
Standard
Since 1998
Proven
Effective
1.6 miles North
of
M-93 to M-32
30
25
Total
20
KA
15
Fell Asleep
27
10
KA = 17
Fell Asleep
4
KA = 1
5
0
96
97
98
00
03
04
05
Non-Freeway System
 Statewide Implementation
 Centerline Rumbles
 Shoulder Rumbles
3 Year Funding Effort
 2008 – 2010
 $3 M per Year
 Estimated 50% Severe Crash
Reduction
Cable Median Barrier
…Catch Them When They Leave


Low Cost Median Protection
95% Effective in Capturing Lane
Departure Vehicles
Michigan Experience
Cable Median Barrier
- 2008, 2009, 2010- $14 million per year
- 95% effective in reducing median crossovers
- Estimated time of return is only 2.9 years!
(Targeting 13 Ks and 52 As per year over 340
miles)
Freeway Analysis
 Crash Study Conducted
 2002-2006 Crash Data
 Identified CS Routes with 4 or more
Correctable Serious Crashes
 340 Miles
 Crash History
 66 Fatalities
 257 Serious Injuries
Implementation

3 Year Funding Effort

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
$14 M per Year
Preliminary TOR = 2.90 Years


2008 – 2010
Construction Only
TO DATE:
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15 Projects Programmed
3 Under Construction
Elderly Drivers
Michigan Drivers Age 65+ Fatal Crashes
250
215
232
210
189
186
Fatal Crashes
200
150
100
50
0
2002
2003
2004
Year
2005
2006
Michigan Demographics
Over the Age of 65…



In 2000 - 12% of Population
By 2030 – Expected Over 20% of
Population
17% are Non-Drivers

~50% of Non-Drivers Stay Home and Do
Not
Access Community Resources, in Part
Because
They Have No Transportation Options
Side-by-Side
Guide Sign Comparison
Series E
Modified
Clear view
Font
Nighttime
Side-by-Side Comparison
Clearview
Series E Modified
City of Detroit’s
Street Name Signs
NEW - 6” Clearview
High Intensity Sheeting
OLD - 5 3/8” Hwy Series D
Engineering Grade Sheeting
Fluorescent Yellow Warning Signs
Revised standard resulting in:

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65% increase in reflectivity
Increased daytime visibility (3 to 1)
Overall improved warning sign system
for our target audience
Standard vs. Fluorescent Yellow
Fluorescent
Yellow
High Intensity
Yellow
Signals Design
Box Span Installation
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MDOT’s first choice for signal design October 2006
Initial crash information indicates improvement on right
angle type crashes (Based on Minimal Crash Information
to date).
Indications are that box span installations reduce red
light running
 Drivers hesitant to cross intersection on red
indication since they can see the indication while
they are in the intersection
 Slight increase in rear end type crashes that could be
linked to drivers hesitant to run a red light (stopping
when others behind would keep going)
Box spans place signal heads in better cone of vision for
all drivers but especially helpful for elderly mobility
(angle to see heads is less severe)
Conflicts with overhead utilities can lead to difficult
installations
Box Span Installation
One Signal Face per Lane Centered
over each lane
Pavement Markings

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6 inch edge lines, 12
inch gore markings
Enhanced quality –
inlaid centerline
markings
Rumble strips –
centerline and shoulder
Paint in shoulder
rumble strips
Wet, night time reflectivity
Local Safety Initiative
3 Pronged Approach

Assist Local Agencies and Address
Safety Concerns through:


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Crash Analysis & Field Reviews
Improving RoadSoft Safety Module
Improving RoadSoft Safety Module
To Date…

44 Counties (1 Township)

13 Cities/Villages

3 Projects

Spreading the Safety Word

Major Improvements in RoadSoft
Safety Module
Local Agency
Safety Initiative
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Five staff positions
assigned
(3 dedicated full time)
Free engineering and
safety audits available to
local agencies
Working through CRAM
and MML
Low cost safety
improvements
High Risk Rural Road
(HRRR) Program
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New program with the Federal Highway Bill—SAFTEALU
$3,190,000 of Federal funds available
(2009 program)
100% of funds allocated to Local Roadways
($0 allocated to state trunk lines)
Funding: 90% Federal / 10% Local and some
qualifying projects at 100% Federal Funds
High Risk Rural Road
(HRRR) Program cont.


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Maximum $400,000 Federal available per
project
Roadway is required to be classified as Rural
Local, Rural Minor Collector, or Rural Major
Collector
Roadway needs to have had 1 ‘A’ or ‘K’ crash
within last 5 years
Local Agency
Safety (STH) Program


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$12,150,000 of Federal funds available
(2009 program)
Funding: 80% Federal / 20% Local
Maximum $400,000 Federal available
per project
Funding Targets



$10,000,000 for projects correcting
Type ‘A’ & ‘K’ crashes
$1,000,000 for guardrail upgrades and
clear zone improvements
$200,000 for shoulder and centerline
rumble strips projects
5% Report Projects


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P.E. Eligible for STH funding
(up to 10% of construction costs)
Must be on 2006 or 2007 lists
Reference:
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/fivepercent/i
ndex.htm
Intersection Stop Control

Flashing Beacons

Traffic Signals

Rumble Strips
Add/Improve permanent
signing & delineation of:
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Upgrade to type IX sheeting
Oversized signs
Flashing warning beacons
Stop & Stop Ahead signs
Chevrons
Install delineators
Install sign post delineators “lollipops”
Upgrade to type IX sheeting
Curve Prior to
Local Safety Project
Curve After Safety Project
Oversized signs
Solar Flashers
After with Stop Ahead Signs
Stop Sign Ahead with Post
Delineators - Lollipops
Stop Signs with Post
Delineators - Lollipops
Local Safety Program Results
Before and After Study


The fifty-seven projects constructed over the two
years resulted in an annual average crash reduction
of 20.0% (835.7 “before” and 668.5 “after”). This is a
reduction of approximately 2.9 crashes per location
per year.
Total annual average injuries for the fifty-seven
project group decreased from 266.3 to 212.3 (20.3%
reduction), slightly less than 1 injury per location per
year.