1. Louisiana Local Road Safety Program
Road Safety Improvement Workshops
Presented by
Marie B. Walsh, Director
Louisiana LTAP
Tom Buckley, PE
LA Local Road Safety Program
Dean Tekell, PE, PTOE

2. The Road Safety Problem in LA
National Rankings:
5th highest fatality rate
Opportunity state in 2008 and focus state in intersection crashes and roadway departures
965 fatalities in 2005
158,452 crashes in 2005
$5.97 billion in total costs
$2,103 for every licensed driver
Source: Cost estimates are based on a study conducted by NHTSA in 2000, “The Economic Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes.”

3. Crash Clock A fatality on average every 9 hours
A crash every 3 ½ minutes

4. The Problem at the Local Level
62,169 crashes in 2005
39% of the state’s total
205 fatalities in 2005
21% of the state’s total

5. Kinds of Crashes Intersection crashes – 30,245
Roadway departures – 3,306
Head on collisions – 912

6. Using the 4 E’s Engineering Education Enforcement Emergency services
Improved Design and Safety Enhancements: rumble strips, signs and pavement markings, clear zones
Education
Public awareness and training
Enforcement
Working with law enforcement as a partner to identify and solve problems
Emergency services
Leveraging the Golden Hour

7. Local Road Safety Program
Designed to reduce crashes & fatalities on Louisiana’s local road system
Increase community awareness
Utilize data
Provide funding for prioritized funds

8. LRSP Services Getting Community Initiatives Started
Training and Education
Technical Assistance
Data Evaluation
Road Safety Reviews
Safety improvement alternatives
Road Safety Improvement Project funds
Other Resources
Organization and Coordination – Assistance in forming community-based coalitions to address local road safety issues
Training and Education – Free training and presentations on road safety
Technical Assistance – On-site assistance by experienced traffic safety engineers
Data Evaluation – Assistance in analyzing available crash data and identifying and diagnosing road safety issues
Safety Improvement Alternatives – Assistance in developing safety improvement alternatives
Road Safety Improvement Project Funds – Funds are available for local road safety improvements. Assistance is available through LTAP to agencies filling out the application
Resource Acquisition – Assistance in identifying available other funding and resources to improve local road safety

9. Local Road Safety Improvement Projects
A reimbursement program intended to reduce injuries and fatalities on local roads
Maximum project funding of $500,000 with either a 5% or 10% local match
Application due October 1
Application available at

10. Identifying Problems and Priorities
Session I
Identifying Problems and Priorities

11. Ask These Questions What is happening in your community?
What are the major road safety issues?
How do you know this?
How can you prove this & make it a priority

12. Obtain and Evaluate Existing Information
Gather reports & complaints from the community & other agencies
Public works
Law enforcement
Emergency responders
Fire departments
School system
Business community

13. Obtain Historical Crash Data
Contact local law enforcement
Contact LTAP
Use actual crash data to construct a road safety profile for your community
Conduct a RSA on a prioritized location based on data or reports

14. Road Safety Profile Example

15. Road Safety Profile Example – Local Roads

16. What Can Your Data Tell You?
Session II
What Can Your Data Tell You?

17. Information in the Crash Database
Crash and fatality locations
Manner of collision
Roadway characteristics
Severity of crashes
Graphical overview of the roads with the most crashes in your area

18. Intersection Crash Reports
Crash number, date, & time
Alignment
Primary contributing factor
Secondary contributing factor
Primary road
Intersecting road
Location type
Manner of collision
Number of injuries

19. Non-Intersection Crash Reports
Crash number, date, & time
Alignment
Location type
Manner of collision
Total injuries
Road name
Distance and direction
Road relation

20. Example

21. Limitations of the Data
No absolute locations without GPS
Location data limited to intersections and the roadway for non-intersection crashes
Not all local law enforcement agencies submit their data to LA DOTD
Accuracy only to the crash report itself

22. Low-Cost Safety Improvements
Session III
Low-Cost Safety Improvements

23. Horizontal Curve Safety
Material Presented from Low Cost Treatments for Horizontal Curve Safety, FHWA publication number FHWA-SA

24. Basic Treatments Signing: Centerline Edgeline
Horizontal alignment signs
Curve speed signs
Advisory speed plaque
Chevron alignment
Delineators
All basic treatments found in the MUTCD (signing portion of the horizontal curve safety)

25. Enhanced Basic Treatments
Getting the motorist’s attention:
Flashing beacons
High retroreflective intensity & fluorescent yellow sheeting on signs
Thermoplastic markings
Raised pavement markers

26. Rumble Strips
Formed in the pavement surface by grooves or placement of strips of material above the surface
Use Roadway Rumble Strip (RRS) to alert the approaching curve

27. Minor Roadway Improvements
Paved shoulder treatment
Replacement of unstable or narrow shoulders with paved shoulders
Shoulder drop-off elimination
Widen shoulder
Skid-resistive pavement surface treatment

28. Speed Displays
Dynamic message signs that use radar to measure speeds of approaching vehicles
Between $5,500 - $20,000 for trailers
Can be used to enforce school zone speed limits

29. Cable Barriers
Can be used on the roadside to prevent run-off-road (RoR) or in medians to prevent crossover crashes
Flexible system that dissipates impact energy by deflection
Larger, clear areas are needed to be effective

30. Rumble Strips
Centerline rumble strips (CLRS) to alert driver to crossing into the opposing lane
Shoulder (edgeline) rumble strips (SRS) to prevent roadway departures

31. Key Application Points
Session IV
Key Application Points

32. Page 1 Project title Location information
Applicant & sponsor contact information

33. Page 2 Project description
Identify the problem that is occurring and why
Describe your proposed countermeasure in thorough detail

34. Page 3
Attach supporting data
List of attempted countermeasures

35. Page 4 Defining the limits of the project Roadway description Lanes
Sketch of modification
Types of traffic

36. Page 5 Roadway description continued Nearby property identified
Right-of-way acquisition or drainage issues

37. Page 6
How the project will reduce crashes
Sponsor maintenance

38. Itemizing Costs List of individual costs related to the project
Sources of match
Signature of the applicant

39. Types of Projects Data management systems Roadway Improvements
Sign inventory system
Crash analysis software
Roadway Improvements
Line-of-sight improvements
Turn lanes
Sidewalks
Roadside hazard removal
Rumble strips
Signs and pavement markings

40. 2006 Eligible Examples Variable message boards Sign management systems
Guardrail installation
Roundabout at hazardous intersection
Signing for parishes
Striping

41. 2006 Ineligible Projects 6 Projects on State Roads
1 sub-division security/beautification
2 dust control and embankment improvement projects deemed maintenance issues and not eligible for funding under this program.
1 school zone
3 sidewalk construction

42. What Makes a Successful Project?
Usage of data and statistics to back up the need for the improvement
High impact, low cost
Ability to evaluate, maintain and follow up
Part of an overall community effort to implement local road safety

43. More Tips for a Successful Project
Involvement of Law Enforcement to identify or confirm high priority issues
Involvement of other stakeholders
Consideration of the 4 E’s