Highway Safety & Wildlife: A National Perspective

October 24-25, 2005

Patrick HassonNational Technical Service Team LeaderSafety and DesignFHWA

Tel: 708-283-3595

Email: patrick.hasson@fhwa.dot.gov

What you will hear…

National Statistics for Wildlife-Vehicle Crashes (WVC)

WVC Elements in New Legislation

Information on some safety initiatives that could make a difference

Framing the Issue in a National Context2003 Nationwide Highway-Related Crashes and Fatalities1

• Overall: 6,289,000 crashes resulting in 2,889,000 injuries and 42,884 fatalities.

• WVC: 315,000 crashes (5 % of total) • WVC: 10,000 injuries (1% of total) • WVC: 200 fatalities (1/2 % of total).

1. USDOT NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2003

Believed to be under-reported by 50% or higher.

WVC TrendsCenters for Disease Control Analysis of 2001-02 WVC Statistics2

•Crashes and injuries occurred more often during – October and November and – Dusk/night/dawn conditions

• 87% of were DVC type• 45% of DVC crashes resulted

in some type of lane departure maneuver

2. CDC Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 2004 Volume 53 Pgs 675-678

Data Needs to Improve• Consistency across and within States is lacking• Thriving wildlife and growing VMT• WVC is a growing problem

Growing Problem?

• WVC Fatalities increased 45% from 1994 – 2003 (IIHS)

• 54% Increase from 1994 to 2000 in PA• 51% increase from 1990 – 2000 in IA• 69% increase in five states (combined) from 1985

to 1991.

Importance of the Issue

Safety

Economic

Environmental

Wildlife-Vehicle Crashes

Setting the Highway Safety Agenda: The Federal RoleReauthorization - Funding and Prioritization

• Federal Government legislative multiyear “plan of action”• Provides National Programmatic Guidance and

Appropriation Assignment• Newest Law (signed by President Bush on 08/10/2005):

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WVC and SAFETEA-LUAt least 4 WVC-related activities included in new legislation

1. Section 1119(n): Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Reduction Study• Determine causes of WVC;

assess impacts of WVC; evaluate solutions for prevention of WVC

• Best-practices manual with guidance on developing a WVC prevention action plan

WVC and SAFETEA-LU2. Section 1122(K)(ii):Transportation Enhancement Activity

• Amends 23CFR 101(a)(35) to make eligible enhancements that “reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity”

WVC and SAFETEA-LU

3. Section 1401(3)(B)(xviii)– Highway Safety Improvement Project eligibility

includes “addition or retrofitting of structures or other measures to eliminate or reduce accidents involving vehicles and wildlife”

4. High Priority Project #1941• $200K Deer Avoidance System to be

implemented on Interstate 90 (MP 494.5 PA to MP 304.2 NY)

Additional WVC National Efforts

Research will Play an Important Role

NCHRP Synthesis 37-12

“Animal-Vehicle Collision Data Collection”

Public Perception

Interdisciplinary Strategies

The Roadways(Highway Engineering)

The Animals(Environmental Stewardship)

The Drivers(Education and Enforcement)

The Vehicles(Automotive Engineering)

What else do we know?

•12 to 35% of all reported crashes on rural, 2-Lane roads involve animals. (GAO, 2004)

•Centers for Disease Control on WVC:• 54% involve collision with animal• 45% involve avoiding animal

“Don’t Veer for Deer” (Michigan)

“Avoiding the Animal” Crashes

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5

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Lv Road Hit FixedObject

Roll Over

Highway Safety Engineering

“Science of Safety”

Conventional PD Process Improved Process

Implementing Safety Improvements

Current Best-Practices & Technologies Can Address the Problem – Directly and Indirectly

• Adopting AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety Plan Strategies

• Implementing Low-Cost Safety Improvements

• Applying the principles of Context Sensitive Solutions

AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety Plan Strategies

22 Goals Selected to Significantly Reduce Highway Crash Fatalities• Run Off Road Emphasis Area

– Goal 15: Keeping Vehicles on the Roadway

– Goal 16: Minimizing Consequences of Leaving Roadway

Measurable Benefits to Managing the Roadside1

1. All tables excerpted from NCHRP 500 Volume 6: A Guide for Addressing Run-Off-Road Collisions

Low Cost Safety Improvements

STEEP SIDESLOPE

“BLIND” CURVE

ADDED CHEVRONS

ADDED GUARDRAIL

Low Cost Safety Improvements

HIGH TREEDENSITY

LACK OF SHOULDERS

ADDED STABILIZED SHOULDERS

TREE REMOVAL & DELINEATION

Low Cost Safety Improvements

HIGH TREE DENSITY

LACK OF SHOULDERS

ADDED STABILIZED SHOULDERS

TREE REMOVAL & IMPROVED SIGHTLINES

Low Cost Safety Improvements

HIGH VEGETATION DENSITY

BRUSH CLEARING & IMPROVED SIGHTLINES

LCSI: The Safety Edge

Eliminates the vertical edge drop-off

• Applies a 30°-35° asphalt fillet to the edge of the roadway

• Minimal added cost (<1% overall)

Context Sensitive Solutions - Success Stories From Arizona DOT

1. Story excerpted from FHWA Office of Environment website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/wildlifeprotection/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewArticle&articleID=27

2. Photo credit to Doug Klassen’s “Forty Years on Two Wheels” internet web log

Context Sensitive Solutions - Success Stories From Arizona DOT

1. Story excerpted from FHWA Office of Environment website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/wildlifeprotection/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewArticle&articleID=27

2. Photo credit to Doug Klassen’s “Forty Years on Two Wheels” internet web log

The Next Step

Tailoring Existing Safety Solutions to a Growing Problem• SAFETEA-LU: Improve data quality and

knowledge of best practices

• Safety Best Practices: Have a Positive Impact on Reducing Severity and Number of WVC

• Research: Finding solutions that balances resources (interdisciplinary).

Patrick HassonTel: 708-283-3595

Email: patrick.hasson@fhwa.dot.gov