TRAFFIC SAFETY CONFERENCE John A. Barton, P.E. Deputy Executive Director June 9, 2015
Introduction TxDOT Mission Work with others to provide safe and reliable transportation solutions for Texas 2
Fatalities and Fatal Crashes 2010-2014 4,000 3,500 3,000 3,060 3,067 2,781 2,803 3,417 3,409 3,037 3,066 3,535 3,190 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Fatalities Fatal Crashes 3
Factors Contributing to the Increase in Fatalities Population Growth Texas has a population of 27 million, an increase of 1.8 million people since 2010 More than 450,000 new Texans in 2014 More than 24 million registered vehicles in the state More than 15 million licensed drivers Increase of 1.75 percent vehicle miles traveled (VMT) 4
Factors Contributing to the Increase in Fatalities Increase in Vehicle Miles Traveled Statewide fatality rate: 1.42 deaths per 100 million VMT Increase of 2.16 percent from 2013 Urban fatality rate:.93 deaths per 100 million VMT Rural fatality rate: 2.6 deaths per 100 million VMT The higher rural fatality rate is driven, in part, by the increases of traffic and population in the oil/gas energy sectors. 5
Traffic Safety Collaborations in Communities Across Texas Education and Training o Law enforcement officers o Judges and prosecutors o Employers o Medical community o Local traffic safety coalitions 6
Traffic Safety Collaborations in Communities Across Texas Education and Training Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) 7
Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Statistics Additional Law Enforcement Description In FY 2014, more than $30 million in local, state and federal grants went to local law enforcement agencies for STEP. These grants will provide extra enforcement with a focus on: Speeding Intersection violations Driving while intoxicated Child/safety belt violations Distracted driving Statewide Mobilization Texas participates in the National Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization in August and September 8
STEP Citations and Arrests by Type Type of Arrest/Citation FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2015 Targets Child Safety Seat Citations 10,070 12,510 2,937 9,628 Commercial Motor Vehicle Citations 15,003 14,978 5,651 12,261 Distracted Driving 0 0 2,854 11,347 Driving Under the Influence by Minors 113 135 49 1,013 DWI Arrests 8,377 8,698 2,606 11,448 Hazardous Moving Vehicle Citations 3,105 3,399 1,256 0 Intersection Traffic Control Citations 49,163 57,062 17,703 46,705 Other Arrests and Citations 94,650 107,379 37,043 0 Safety Belt Citations 51,932 67,834 14,162 48,342 Speeding Citations 276,826 325,389 114,143 312,541 Total, all Citations and Arrests: 509,239 597,384 198,404 453,285 9
Traffic Safety Collaborations in Communities Across Texas Education and Training Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Crash Records Information System (CRIS) 10
Crash Records Information System (CRIS) Provides law enforcement and other safety professionals with crash data for traffic safety planning Assists law enforcement in their traffic enforcement efforts 11
Crash Reporting and Analysis for Safer Highways (CRASH) Total CRASH Users by month: FY 2014 12
Crash Reporting and Analysis for Safer Highways (CRASH) Total CRASH Users by Month: FYTD 2015 13
Traffic Safety Collaborations in Communities Across Texas Education and Training Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Crash Records Information System (CRIS) Traffic Safety Outreach Events and Campaigns 14
Traffic Safety Outreach Events and Campaigns Safety/health fairs Child safety seat inspections Media events and interviews School presentations Presentations for local organizations Safety/health events Local conferences National Night Out events Festivals, rallies, rodeos Car/bike shows 15
Child Passenger Safety Statistics District Child Seat Program Districts at Work Child Passenger Safety Child restraint usage rate was 86.3% in 2014. Child restraint use varied from a low of 74.0% in Brownsville to a high of 96.5% in Austin. Inspected 1,579 child safety seats Distributed 744 child safety seats Each traffic safety specialist is a child passenger safety technician Statewide Mobilization Child Passenger Safety Week occurs each year in September 16
Traffic Safety Outreach Events and Campaigns Traffic safety campaigns inform, educate and change the attitudes and behaviors of transportation users so they make better safety choices. 17
Click It or Ticket Statistics Click it or Ticket Cost Savings Texas seat belt usage rate was 90.74 % in 2014 This was the 9th consecutive year of 90 percent or greater usage rate Texas is considered a high-use state Only 76% of Texans used seat belts when the campaign started in 2002 NHTSA estimates that the Click It or Ticket initiative in Texas has resulted in 4,317 fewer traffic fatalities, 72,926 fewer serious injuries, and a savings to the state of more than $16.7 billion in associated costs. Statewide Mobilization Texas participates in the National Click it or Ticket mobilization conducted in May. As many as 70 additional law enforcement agencies participate in the mobilization 18
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TRAFFIC SAFETY CONFERENCE John A. Barton, P.E. Deputy Executive Director June 9, 2015