April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
AARP Driver Safety Annual Meeting
October 29, 2014
Presented by: Kevin S. Marshia, P.E.
Deputy Chief Engineer, VTrans
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Today’s Presentation
• Background of Highway Safety in VT
• Introduction to VT Highway Safety Alliance
• Crash Data
• Strategic Highway Safety Plan
• Goals and Priorities
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
The Past
• Congress established Governor’s Highway Safety Program in 1966 (50,894 fatalities)
• Limited collaboration amongst the 4 E’s
• Stovepipe mentality at addressing issues
• Planning for VT’s first Strategic Highway Safety Plan January 2006
• Active & Diverse Core Group
• Focus Groups identified and formed
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Creation of the VHSA
• Expand on SHSP accomplishments
• Need to further engage private sector
• Opportunity to expand collaboration
• Ability to improve efficiency
• Need to strengthen and unify the message
• Maine Transportation Safety Coalition example
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
What is the Alliance?• A new approach to a public safety issue
• Public/Private Partnership
• Non-Profit Organization
• Board of Directors, Focus Groups, Task Teams
• Board - Core Agencies: VTrans, DMV, Governor’s Highway, Education, State Police, Health
• Board - Private Members: AAA, AARP, Truck & Bus Assoc.,Fletcher Allen, VT Youth Safety Council, VT Auto Dealers
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
VHSA Mission
The mission of the VHSA is to
collaboratively promote strategies to
reduce crashes on VT public highways
through the development and support of
partnerships and coalitions.
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Major Crashes
Major Crash defined as involving a fatality and/or incapacitating injury.
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
VHSA Goal
Reduce Major Crashes an
additional 10% by 2016.
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
VHSA Goal
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Why an Alliance?
•70 Lives Lost on VT Highways in 2013
• One is Too Many!
• 46 Operators
• 18 Passengers
• 6 Pedestrians
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Why an Alliance? – Causes of Death
• 2013: 70 Fatalities
• 31 Unbelted/not wearing a helmet
• 10 operators suspected of DUI – alcohol only
• 7 operators suspected of DUI – drugs only
• 8 operators suspected of DUI – drugs & alcohol
• 12 operators suspected of speeding
• 18 drivers over the age of 65
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Impact of Fatal Crashes
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Strategic Highway Safety Plan• The umbrella handle
• The overarching plan for all highway safety initiates in the state.
• Two parts:
• Core document establishes the emphasis areas
• Supplement provides the back up data, action items, performance measures
• A living document that will be reviewed and reported on annually.
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
SHSP - Critical Emphasis Areas
Young & Older Drivers Impaired Drivers
Distracted DriversOccupant Protection
Infrastructure – Lane Departure & Intersections
Speeding & Aggressive Driving
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Significant & Special Emphasis Areas
Motorcycle Safety
Vulnerable Users – Bike/Ped
Medium & Heavy Vehicles
DATA
Work Zones
EMS
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Focus Groups
Data & Performance Measures
Infrastructure
Law Enforcement
Education, Outreach, and Marketing
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Partners/ Emphasis Areas
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Sample of Our Safety Partners
Municipal Government Liquor ControlRegional Planning
Commissions
State Police Department of Health Federal Motor Carrier
Trucking Industry Local Law Enforcement Local Roads Program
Employers Bike & Ped Groups County Sheriffs
Federal Highway NHTSA AAA Northern NE
Insurance CompaniesGovernor’s Highway
SafetyMunicipal Highway
Association
Operation Lifesaver Emergency Responders University of Vermont
Associated General Contractors
Public Safety Dept. of Education
Engineering Groups Agency of Transportation AARP
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Priorities• Occupant Protection
• Task Force “OP 802”
• Northeast Kingdom focused project
• Impaired Driving• Task Force working to identify & implement
• NHTSA Impaired Driving Assessment will be the road map
• Driver Inattention• Task Force recently formed - Strategies and
action must acknowledge the emerging dynamics of this issue.
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
US 4 Project• Multiple fatal crashes
• VHSA convened a local/regional meeting
• All E’s were represented at the meeting
• Identified cross cutting action items for immediate implementation
• Targeted enforcement
• Speed/traffic monitoring
• Infrastructure improvements (pavement, signs, rumble stripes)
• Public outreach and marketing
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
US 4 Project – Crash Data
Total of 392 Crashes from 1/1/2008 – 6/9/013 or approx. 6 crashes per month
Distracted Driving/Inattention cited in 35% of injury related crashes Drivers between the age of 30-65 involved in 71% of crashes Time of Day:
67% of all crashes occur between 10 AM and 6 PM39% of all crashes occur between 2 PM and 6 PM
Conditions:
74% are during daylight hours55% are in clear conditions
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
US 4 Project – Crash Data
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
US 4 Project – Crash Data
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Twelve Month Period
•Fatalities – 4 before, 0 after
•Injuries – 12 before, 5 after
•Property Damage Only – 64 before, 27 after
•Total Crashes – 80 before, 32 after
•58 % Reduction in injuries
•60% in total crashes
US 4 – Before/After
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Centerline Rumble Stripes
Cross Centerline Crashes (2008-2013)
o 5851 Crashes
o 94 Fatalities
o 1320 Injuries
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
• Collaborate on ideas and strategies
• Address cultural norms
• Share our resources
• Increase awareness – the good and the bad
• Set achievable goals
• Measure our performance
• Remain FOCUSED
Keys to Success
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Older Driver Crash Data
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Older Driver Crash Data
April 21, 2023
The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance
Questions
Website:
http://highwaysafety.vermont.gov/
Kevin S. Marshia, P.E.
Deputy Chief Engineer, VTrans
Phone: 802-828-2663
Email: [email protected]