Highway Safety & Wildlife: A National Perspective
October 24-25, 2005
Patrick HassonNational Technical Service Team LeaderSafety and DesignFHWA
Tel: 708-283-3595
Email: [email protected]
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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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).