Newsletter - November/December 2004
Top Story
| Margie Sherriff Joins the FHWA Safety Office.
Margie Sheriff recently joined the Office of Safety as Team Leader of the Safety Focus Team. In this capacity she will provide support to the opportunity and focus states and manage the Accelerating Safety Activities Program (ASAP). Margie most recently completed a 3-month rotational assignment in the Rhode Island Division Office as Acting Assistant Division Administrator and prior to that, from 2001-2004, was the Special Assistant to the Executive Director. |
What is the "Focused Approach"? Data Driven Decision Making "Moving the Numbers" Opportunity and Focus States Raising the Safety Bar To learn more about our highway safety efforts,please visit our web site: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/. |
Margie has an M.S. in Technology Management and has been with FHWA since 1993.
Welcome Margie!
Ann Walls Retires
Ann Walls, Safety Communications and Outreach Program Manager, retired from the FHWA on September 29, 2004. She led the safety outreach efforts in developing a strategic communications program for safety, leading public media events, and continuing the efforts of supporting safety partnering organizations. Walls established an excellent reputation as a skilled and effective leader in the communication of FHWA safety programs
Thank you for the 14 years you have given to the Federal service
We will miss you and enjoy your retirement!
Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan Peer to Peer Exchange.
On October 18-21, safety engineers and specialists from State and federal agencies participated in the Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan Peer to Peer Exchange in Overland Park, Kansas. A total of 40 states were in attendance. Panel discussions highlighted the States' challenges and successes on the development and implementation of State Comprehensive Highway Safety Plans.Those in attendance heard from Florida, Missouri, Kentucky, Minnesota, Maine, Washington, Iowa, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Each state stressed the advantages and effectiveness of having a focused and united approach to their safety problems.
A series of breakout sessions were held for the states to discuss the following topics concerning the development of a CHSP:
The Purpose of Developing a CHSP
States' Status Reports
Getting Started
States' Safety Goal
Leadership Involvement
Key Players in Developing a CHSP
Partnering to Integrate and Leverage Processes and Resources
Successes and Challenges
Finally, each State identified its major issues, listed steps on addressing these issues, and developed a plan of action to advance the development and implementation of its CHSP.
On the last day of the meeting, the States' safety engineers had an opportunity to share and discuss a variety of safety issues. It was an enlightening experience for the participants because of the many ideas shared amongst States. FHWA representatives were also on hand to share information. The consensus of the participants was to continue to conduct similar Exchanges, regionally and nationally, in the near future.
For more information on Comprehensive Highway Safety Plans, contact Rudy Umbs at rudolph.umbs@fhwa.dot.gov.
News Briefs
October 15, 2004 - A recent report shows that fewer young drivers died in car crashes in 2003 than the year before. However, this figure is still high compared to the number of fatalities among young drivers in 1993.
Source: http://www.aiada.org/article.asp?id=25561&cat=Dealers
October 18, 2004 - Research shows that cell phone use while driving is a serious safety problem even if a driver's hands are on the steering wheel.
Source: http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosinsider/0410/21/a01-307032.htm
Update on Pedestrian Safety Focus State Activities
The FHWA's Safety Office hosted a meeting on October 7 to kick off the project to develop a "How to Guide for Developing and Implementing a Pedestrian Safety Plan" which was awarded to BMI. The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Highway Safety Research Center is the subcontractor. The purpose of the project is to assist the pedestrian focus states and cities in helping the FHWA achieve its pedestrian safety goals:
- Develop and implement pedestrian safety plans in cities with highest fatalities per year (Los Angeles, Phoenix, Detroit, Chicago, and New York City).
- For states with pedestrian fatalities above 150 or fatality rate above 2.5, commit to developing pedestrian safety plan. (Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas).
UNC is currently looking to see if there are any model pedestrian safety guides available. If not, they will start development of a "How to Guide" that will coach states/cities through the process of developing and implementing such a plan. The project also provides funding for UNC to provide varying degrees of technical assistance to the focus states and cities.
For more information, contact Tamara Redmon at tamara.redmon@fhwa.dot.gov
TRB Safety Briefs
On Sunday, January 9, 2005, the Transportation Research Board will sponsor thirteen safety workshops. For more information, please visit the meeting announcement at: http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/am/am2005brochure.pdf
You may also view a description of each workshop at: http://trb.org/news/search_news.asp?q=workshop&subject=25&t=&day=&Lower_Date=10%2F11%2F2004&Upper_Date=10%2F11%2F2004&s=1&st=1&Submit1=Find+Blurbs .
Road Safety Audit Activities
Collier County, Florida and Tucson, Arizona will conduct their first road safety audits (RSAs) this fall. In Collier County, the RSA will take place on a widening project for a 6.5-mile section of the Collier Boulevard, a divided highway (widening from four to six lanes). Improvements for this project include drainage, lighting, curb and gutter, sidewalk, and bike lanes. A major intersection and several private driveways are included in the RSA section. Currently, the project is in the conceptual design phase so a preliminary alignment has been established and design criteria are under development.
In Tucson, the first RSA was conducted on October 26-28 at six intersections where high-intensity activated crosswalk ("HAWK") pedestrian beacons are to be installed. HAWK signals are based on a European design and are similar to the current school bus warning flasher system. The RSA sites are intersections where there are frequent crashes with pedestrians, and with transit; and near a university, a shopping center, and a high school. The RSAs examined these locations with a focus on how the HAWK signals will meet the needs of pedestrians and cyclists as well as motorized traffic, identify possible issues with their installation and operation, and suggest potential measures to enhance their benefits for all road users.
For more information, contact Louisa Ward at louisa.ward@fhwa.dot.gov
Florida LTAP organizes Mendocino County, CA Showcase
Recently, the Florida Local Transportation Assistance Program organized the Mendocino County Road System Traffic Safety Review Showcase. The showcase highlighted the processes for start-up roadway selection, field reviews, and roadway deficiency correction as well as subsequent treatment evaluation and treatment section methodology. Low-cost countermeasures such as pavement markings and signage were implemented to provide further guidance to drivers, which allowed safer navigation of the respective road segments.
Contact Leslie Wright at leslie.wright@fhwa.dot.gov for more information on this event.
Saving Lives - A Vital Goal
Vision:
Improving Transportation for a Strong America.
Goal:
To continually improve highway safety by reducing the number of highway fatalities
and injuries including large trucks. Ensuring safe travel on highways is a guiding
principle throughout the FHWA.
Focus:
High-risk areas through technical assistance, research, training, data analysis, and public
information as well as through compliance and education. The FHWA is working
with safety partners to heighten safety awareness within the highway community,
business, industry, and the Public.
Top Priorities:
Roadway Departure, Intersections, and Pedestrians
| Dates |
Location |
Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | ||
November 13 – 17 |
Los Angeles, CA |
International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference |
| 2005 | ||
| January 9 - 13 | Washington, DC | Annual TRB Meeting, http://gulliver.trb.org/ |
| February 25 - March 1 | Phoenix, AZ | ATSSA 35th Annual Convention and Traffic Expo, www.atssa.com |
| April 3 - 9 | Nationwide | National Work Zone Awareness Week |
| May 2 - 4 | Phoenix, AZ | ITS America Annual Meeting & Expo www.ITSA.org |
| July 15 - 19 | Honolulu, HI | National Association of Counties Annual Meeting www.naco.org |
| July 31 - August 4 | Buffalo, NY | Traffic Records Forum http://www.nsc.org/trafficrecordsforum/ |
| July 23 - 27 | Dubuque, IA | National Local Transportation Assistance Program Meeting http://www.ltapt2.org/ |
| August 7 - 10 | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Institute of Transportation Engineers Annual Meeting & Exhibit http://www.ite.org/ |
