October 24, 2015 The Vermont Highway Safety Alliance Vermont Highway Safety Alliance AARP Driver...

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: kevin.marshia@state.vt.us