Enhancing Roadway Safety: Results and Data-Driven Safety Studies for Sustainable, Fundable Solutions
In a world of ever-evolving transportation, it is important to recognize and accommodate the safety of all roadway users. Drivers of automobiles, operators of motorcycles, pedestrians, cyclists, and more. Detailed safety studies help communities understand their current safety issues, the contributing factors, the safety improvement countermeasures that address the crash problem, and the funding opportunities to design and construct solutions. Creating safer travel environments for every member of the community starts with a localized safety study, progresses to funding applications, and ultimately ends in the construction of roadway elements that save lives and prevent injury.
What is a Safety Study?
A safety study is a detailed analysis focusing on crash patterns and crash frequency at high-crash and safety priority locations. It is a strategic approach for evaluating contributing factors to crashes and identifying effective countermeasures that match the crash problem and are tailored to fit the location and local characteristics.
Steps in the Safety Study Process
After a location has been identified for a safety study, the following steps are taken on the path to achieve a fundable solution.
Data Collection and Diagnosis
This critical step involves gathering crash data, existing roadway or intersection conditions, and traffic patterns. Tools like ODOT’s GIS Crash Analysis Tool (GCAT) and Transportation Information Mapping System (TIMS) are employed for data analysis, including reviewing historical studies, creating, and evaluating collision diagrams, and conducting field reviews. This is detective work – analyzing the data and investigating the field condition(s) to find the real reason for the high level of severity or crash frequency. There is always a reason – often a few reasons combined – why a particular intersection or roadway is experiencing more crashes than would be expected given its characteristics.
Evaluation of Site Safety Improvements
Using predictive models, this phase quantifies safety improvement potential and identifies applicable countermeasures, based on the analysis of existing conditions, crash frequency, and crash severity.
Countermeasure Evaluation
With a focus on evaluating the safety effectiveness and cost-benefit of each proposed measure, countermeasures are tailored to the particular area to ensure the most beneficial strategies are selected. For example, a Road Diet is an FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasure, but is not always the most appropriate countermeasure for the specific crash problem.
Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE)
Recommended for significant intersection changes, ICE considers combinations of geometry and traffic control for optimal safety solutions.
Supplemental Traffic Studies
Supporting the countermeasure evaluation, these studies may include volume studies, signal warrant analysis, sight distance studies, and more. For example, a single lane roundabout might be predicted to reduce the high injury producing angle crashes at an intersection, but a capacity analysis would be important to ensure that the single lane roundabout would be sufficient.
Report Development
Documenting all findings, analysis, and recommendations, this report serves as a comprehensive guide for implementing safety measures and can be used for funding applications and future planning.
Outcomes and Benefits
- Strategic Action Plan – A study creates a targeted plan for reducing crashes and enhancing road safety for all users of a particular roadway segment or intersection. Safety Study recommendations include low, medium, and high-cost solutions as well as short, medium, and long-term recommendations.
- Optimized Funding Utilization – A safety study is an effective use of resources for maximum safety impact. The return on investment of a safety study is significantly high, particularly for established high-crash locations and high dollar countermeasures.
- Comprehensive Safety Improvement – A safety study outlines the methods for integrating various safety strategies for holistic improvements.
Why Conduct a Safety Study?
- Data-Driven Insights – A safety study provides empirical evidence for identifying and effectively addressing high-risk areas.
- Enhanced Community Safety – The results of a safety study indicate a direct contribution to reducing crashes and enhancing public safety.
- Accountability and Compliance – Enlisting assistance to study the causes and solutions of a high-crash location fulfills regulatory responsibilities and provides public accountability.
Utilizing Data-Driven Approach for Roadway Safety
Environmental Design Group is dedicated to conducting thorough safety studies, utilizing a structured, data-driven approach to achieve tangible safety improvements on roadways. Contact us for more information.