Review of current traffic safety research, practice, analytical procedures and databases

793207617Final report; June 2004-July 2005PDFTech ReportFHWA/LA.03/399LTRC project no. 05-3SSState project no. 737-99-0649Traffic safetyTransportation safetySafetyResearchLouisianaLouisiana Transportation Research CenterWilmot, ChesterZhang, HongFu, HaoqiangJayadevan, AthiraWolshon, BrianSchneider, HelmutSun, XiaoduanLouisiana Transportation Research CenterLouisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.)NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-SAFETY AND SECURITYNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway SafetyNTL-PLANNING AND POLICY-PLANNING AND POLICYUS Transportation CollectionThis report synthesized the research findings of Phase I of the Statewide Traffic Safety Study of Louisiana, sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. The objective of Phase I was to provide a comprehensive review of the state of the art in highway traffic safety, both within the U.S. and abroad, including studies on factors influencing road safety, available databases, safety legislation, safety initiatives and programs, and safety-related funding, at both state and federal levels. Research on crash-related contributing factors, including human, roadway environment, and vehicle factors were reviewed in depth. The impact of intelligent transportation systems on traffic safety was also reviewed. Traffic safety laws, both at federal and state levels, were investigated to provide an overview of existing legislation. A variety of safety-related programs that have been implemented throughout the states were explored. These programs included aggressive driver programs, automated enforcement programs, cell phone enforcement programs, alcohol and drug impaired driving programs, occupant protection programs, helmet law enforcement programs, and older driver laws. Analytical tools and procedures commonly used in traffic safety analysis were also reviewed. These included statistical methods widely used in current practice and major ongoing initiatives (such as CHSIM, IHSDM, and Highway Safety Manual), new tools (such as SafetyAnalyst, Road Safety Audits, AASHTO Implementation Guides, etc.), and software packages (such as CARE). Louisiana's safety-related funding in recent years was reviewed and the trend examined. Finally, a crash-related database inventory was conducted. This produced a list of federal and Louisiana databases that are of potential importance in the next phase of the study. The review revealed that road safety is indeed a problem in Louisiana. The crash rate in Louisiana is consistently among the ten highest state rates, alcohol-related accidents are among the highest in the nation, and car insurance rates have grown more rapidly in Louisiana in the last several years than any other state in the union. The review has provided the background from which a research program can be designed. The research program will identify the factors contributing to the high crash rate in Louisiana and recommend countermeasures that will improve the situation