Transcript Slide 1
Future View of Roadway
Safety Management
under TZD
Forrest Council
Consultant to VHB
Future Issues
Funding at federal, State and Local Levels
(i.e., both amount and Congressional
restrictions)
Safety program managers – who they will be
and what will help them?
TZD Management
Recommendations (No box!)
Link future FHWA, NHTSA, and FMCSA budget
increases to increases in road users (and inflation)
Protect safety funds – do not allow 25% diversion to
non-safety core functions.
Congress should allow US DOT to fund areas and
programs with greatest benefit (i.e., stop
earmarking).
Congressional self-policing
More congressional contact by DOT staff
More contact by politically-strong organizations (i.e.,
AASHTO, GHSA)
Management
Recommendations
Given increased funding flexibility, US DOT
agencies should develop and use data-driven
methods to choose high-priority areas
State and local DOTs should use existing and nearterm data-driven tools
“Countermeasures that Work”, SafetyAnalyst, IHSDM,
HSM
If increased oversight power, FHWA and NHTSA
must insure that State Safety Plans are data-driven
and focus on most effective programs
Difficult political decisions will have to be made
Management
Recommendations
If States propose programs/treatments with
unknown effectiveness, an scientifically-sound
evaluation should be part of the proposed
program.
To leverage safety funds, State safety, driver,
and roadway managers will need to increase
involvement in other safety-agency decisions
(e.g., licensing, enforcement, EMS, roadway
maintenance)
Will require funding, political skill and the backing
of upper-level administration.
Management
Recommendations
Expanding State DOT responsibility to local roads
without increased funding could decrease
treatments on higher-crash/mile State roads.
New targeting methods will need to be developed!
Driver and roadway managers are ageing out.
Develop and expand use of in-service training programs
for possible replacements.
Careful study is needed before “out-sourcing” State
safety programs
In done, consider incentives based on changes in
crashes and crash injury, determined by independent
assessment
Questions?