MPC
Research Projects (2009-10)

Identifying Number

MPC-333

Project Title

Implementing Traffic Safety Evaluations to Enhance Roadway Safety

University

North Dakota State University

Project Investigator

Jason Baker, Kurt Johnson, Mark Berwick, and Kimberly Vachal

Description of Project Abstract

Improving roadway safety is an ongoing priority for transportation agencies. However, addressing safety issues in rural areas is difficult for local governments due to the limited resources available for maintenance and improvement projects. According to statistics from the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), 85% of fatal crashes occurred on rural roads in 2007.

Traffic Safety Evaluations (TSE's) have emerged as an effective type of proactive tool for identifying and addressing roadway safety issues. TSE are founded on the same principles as the FHWA proved strategy of Road Safety Audits with a format and process that is designed to fit the rural roads community. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Road Safety Audits noticeably improve the safety performance of roadway facilities. For example, the South Carolina Department of Transportation recorded a 60% reduction in fatalities in a location at which a safety audit was conducted. Several benefits can be achieved through the implementation of Road Safety Audits such as low-cost/high-value improvement opportunities, promoting the awareness of safe design and maintenance practices, and providing a means to tailor the resources of an agency to meet specific problems.

Project Objectives

The main goal of this project is to develop a methodology for identifying and conducting traffic safety evaluations in North Dakota. Specific objectives include:

1. Conduct two case studies at sites with recognized safety issues.
   • Cass County, North Dakota
   • Burleigh County, North Dakota
2. Providing research and information on conducting safety evaluations among county transportation agencies in North Dakota.
3. Demonstrate the effectiveness of conducting TSE's to agencies in North Dakota and other locations in the MPC region, along with a low-cost improvement tool-kit.

Project Approach/Methods

The general framework for the research approach consists of using a real-world case study to conduct two Traffic Safety Evaluations and demonstrate the methodology and application to agencies in North Dakota. The major work tasks expected for meeting the project objectives, as outlined by FHWA, and include:

1. Identify the project or existing road to be audited
2. Draft TSE tools, including site-visit worksheet, etc.
3. Select an interdisciplinary team
4. Conduct a pre-audit meeting to review project information and drawings
5. Perform field reviews under various conditions
6. Conduct audit analysis and prepare report of findings
7. Present audit findings to project owner/design team
8. Prepare formal response
9. Incorporate findings into the project when appropriate

MPC Critical Issues Addressed by the Research

• 1. High-Risk Rural Roads. Rural roads continue to experience a disproportionate number of crashes, resulting in more fatalities and injuries than their urban counterparts. Fatalities on rural roads occur at a rate two-and-a-half times greater than on all other routes. Research proposals should address the unique characteristics which contribute to increased risks at particular locations, including: highway geometry, use of alcohol and other substances that impair drivers, monotonous driving conditions, and high crash rates on Indian reservation roads.
• 4. Human Factors. Because rural crashes often involve single-vehicle, runn-off-the-road crashes, there is a need to examine unique human factors corresponding to the characteristics of the Mountain-Plains Region. These critical factors include: driver behavior, driver attitudes to speed, alcohol, and seat belt use, and other regional and cultural factors. These issues are equally applicable to drivers of commercial and passenger vehicles.
• 5. Low-Cost Safety Improvements. Technology transfer projects are needed to help disseminate available information regarding successful low-cost safety improvements to local and county transportation agencies in the region. Research is needed to identify improvements in roadway inventory data and road safety audit procedures which are necessary to identify cost-effective safety improvements.
• 8. Safety of Unpaved Roads. Most local agencies in the Mountain-Plains Region manage hundreds of miles of gravel roads. For some agencies, the percentage of gravel roads approaches 95 percent of their total networks. Research into the causes of crashes on unpaved roads will help local governments improve the safety of their networks.

Contributions/Potential Applications of Research

This project will provide a blueprint for conducting rural and local road safety assessments in North Dakota. The information generated from this project is potentially helpful to county agencies to outline the process of identifying potential problem areas and the process for conducting audits. Another potential benefit of this study is to generate interest and a sharing of resources and best practices among counties regarding the improvement of roadway safety. The TSE process could potentially be offered through the ND LTAP, depending on interest from rural and local road managers.

Technology Transfer Activities

1. The project report will be shared with interested DOT's and county agencies in the MPC region
2. A presentation/seminar will be developed for the TLN
3. Presentation to the North Dakota Association of County Engineers
4. Implement a TSE web resource via LTAP

Time Duration

July 1, 2009 through June 31, 2010

Total Project Cost

$62,085.00

MPC Funds Requested

$30,000.00

TRB Keywords

Road Safety Audits, Traffic Safety Evaluations