Transportation leadership you can trust.

presented to

2008 Highway Safety Summit, Boise Idaho

presented by

Lowell M. Porter

Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

May 13, 2008

Nighttime Seat Belt Enforcement:The Washington Experience

3

Introduction

Washington’s seat belt use rate

Project background

Nighttime usage/death rate comparisons

Project methodology, goals and evaluation

Enforcement model

Project time line

4

Background

Washington’s daytime seat belt use rate – 96.4%

About the same number of people die in fatal crashes during the day as at night.

However, only 15% of the vehicle miles traveled occur at night.

Seat belt use rate in fatal crashes ~ 53%

Seat belt use rate in nighttime fatal crashes ~ 46%

5

Background

WA death rate at night is 4 times higher.

Research shows that unbuckled drivers in WA are some of the highest risk taking drivers on the states roadways.

Therefore, NHTSA and the WA. Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) are conducting a demonstration project to research effective nighttime seat belt enforcement and the occurrence of other high risk driving behaviors.

6

Observed Seatbelt Use & Vehicle Occupant Death Rates Washington state, 1986-2005

Occupant deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles traveled

25%

50%

75%

100%

1986 1988 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005

Perc

en

t o

f m

oto

ris

ts o

bs

erv

ed

usin

g s

ea

tbelt

s

0.70

0.85

1.00

1.15

1.30

1.45

1.60

Veh

icle

oc

cu

pan

t dea

ths

pe

r 100

millio

n V

MT

Observed Seatbelt Use Rate

Vehicle Occupant Death RateSource: FARS, WSDOT, WTSC

*Seatbelt survey not conducted in 1990

Seatbelt Use Rate

Vehicle Occupant Death Rate

7

Washington State Traffic Fatalities, 2001-2005 by Time of Day

15761524

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

6:00 AM- 6:00 PM 6:00 PM- 6:00 AMTime of Day

Nu

mb

er

of

Fata

liti

es

Source: FARS

8

Contributing Circumstances in WA Fatal Crashes, 1993-2005Unbelted vs Belted Drivers

58.4%

18.9%

8.2%

4.8%2.9% 1.8%

9.1%

44.6%

11.6%

5.8%6.4%

38.0%

1.1%1.4%3.4%4.2%

2.5%

15.7%15.6%

18.2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%Unbelted Drivers Belted Drivers Source: FARS

*Signs, signals, officers

9

It's Like Night and DayWashington Traffic Fatalities 1993-2005, By Problem Type

56.2%

37.4%

27.5%

37.5%

22.3%

43.8%

62.6%

72.5%

62.5%

77.7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Head-Ons Run-Off-Road Impaired Driving Speeding Speeding AND ImpairedDriving

Daytime Fatalities Nighttime Fatalities Source: FARS

10

SRS Non-Use by Vehicle Occupants Killed in Washington Crashes1993-2005, Daytime vs Nighttime

45.0%

66.1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Day Night

Source: FARS

11

Project Goals

Determine if the CIOT model can be used effectively to increase nighttime seat belt use.

Determine if this strategy can reduce injury and death rates as occurred with daytime enforcement.

Learn who the unbuckled motorists are and how to most effectively change their behavior.

Measure the impact this project has on other high risk driving behaviors and the frequency at which other criminal offenses are identified.

12

Enforcement Strategy

13

Three statewide mobilizations:

$300,000 for law enforcement overtime grants

$300,000 for publicity:

• $270,000 media air buy

• $30,000 print materials and road signs

Campaign dates:

• May, 2007

• October, 2007

• May, 2008

Evaluation by Dunlap & Associates

Strategic Plan: Stationary patrols:

14

May, 2007 mobilization:

• 77 law enforcement

agencies participated

• Media coverage was extensive

• Editorial boards proved fruitful

• Variable message road signs:

− Rented 30

− WSDOT put message on 150 freeway signs

− Pop up signs used by law enforcement.

Activities to date:

15

• 51 law enforcement agencies participated

− More recruitment efforts are underway

− We competed with hunting season

• Media coverage was still extensive

• Preliminary data shows people noticed the message

Sustained enforcement efforts in three counties between mobilizations.

October Mobilization T.V. PSA:

16

Results:

5,715 hours worked

10,380 total contacts

6,756 total tickets

4,671 seat belt and child car seat tickets

144 DUIs

66 “other alcohol”

115 drug offenses

176 aggressive & reckless

59 felony warrants & arrests

123 “other criminal arrests”

141 misdemeanor warrants

530 suspended/revoked

973 uninsured

8 stolen cars

1,393 vehicle violations

5,362 hours worked

7,517 total contacts

5,322 total tickets

3,948 seat belt and child car seat tickets

83 DUIs

35 “other alcohol”

78 drug offenses

57 aggressive & reckless

64 felony warrants & arrests

110 “other criminal arrests”

134 misdemeanor warrants

282 suspended/revoked

478 uninsured

4 stolen cars

510 vehicle violations

May 2007 October 2007

17

More seat belt tickets per officer contact

More criminal interdiction than daytime seat belt patrols

Good value for the grant dollars

Public support

Need to constantly promote among law enforcement

Results: comparisons with other campaigns

18

Seat belt tickets (day vs. night)

Observational surveys (day and night)

Knowledge and awareness opinion surveys

Intercept surveys

With tickets: an analysis of driving and criminal histories of people who drive unbuckled at night.

• Are there more high risk drivers in this group of unbuckled drivers v.s. daytime unbuckleds.

Evaluation components: Observational surveys

19

Future plans:

Maintain high daytime seat belt use (96.4%)

Sustained enforcement:

• 3 counties in between mobilizations

May, 2008 statewide mobilization

Recruit law enforcement involvement

On-going analysis of results

Insert law enforcementPhoto here

20

Washington Fatalities Involving Speeding or Impaired Drivers, 2002-2007Through September 30th, By Year and Percent of All Fatalities

Fatalities shown inside bars,Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System

62.2%

57.1%

61.7%

64.4%

59.6%

61.1%

50%

55%

60%

65%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

312 276 272 285 315 242

21

Summary of 2007 Fatality-Reduction Factors

FACTOR 2007 (vs. 2002-2006 Avg)

Speeding-involved fatalities -18.2%

Impaired driver-involved fatalities -22.9%

August fatalities -21.8%

September fatalities -21.8%

Motor vehicle occupant fatalities -11.9%

Nighttime Fatalities (6pm-5:59 am) -17.3%

Highway-related fatalities - 4.8%

County road-related fatalities - 22.8%

Male fatalities - 9.3%

Female fatalities - 13.3%

Restraint Use by MV Occ fatalities May-August +17.98%

Analysis for all years includes data for January 1 - September 30 only owing to preliminary and incomplete data for 2007.

22

Questions

23

Lowell Porter

Cambridge Systematics

lporter@camsys.com

253-439-0585

Contact Information:

WTSC web page: wtsc.wa.gov