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SEVERE COLLISION REDUCTION PLAN |
Purpose
PURPOSE
This report outlines the significant progress of the newly formed Traffic Safety Council's efforts toward implementing the Severe Collision Reduction Plan. The Traffic Safety Council was established to deal with the City Council's concern for a recent increase in severe collisions in the city. This report is for information only.Return to top of Severe Collision Reduction Plan Report
BACKGROUND
Last year, the City Manager requested the Street Transportation Department to work with the Police Department to develop a plan that can help reverse the recent increase in the number of severe and fatal traffic collisions occurring in Phoenix. As a result, the new Phoenix Traffic Safety Council has been formed to implement the Severe Collision Reduction Plan.The Traffic Safety Council, representing city staff in 10 city departments that deal with traffic safety, has been subdivided into six distinct committees, working on various aspects of safety. Here are the committees and their respective mission statements:
Engineering: "Improve the quality of the roadway system for the safety of the driving, walking and bicycling public."
Education: "Expand programs to educate the public on safe walking, bicycling and driving behaviors."
Collision Records Management: "Improve the city's enforcement and engineering capabilities by improving the quality of our collision records system."
Enforcement Planning: "reduce fatalities and serious injuries through voluntary compliance with traffic laws."
Legal: "Research legal issues and draft new ordinances that relate to traffic safety in Phoenix."
Safety Resources: "Identify and secure funding for projects, programs and other activities that enhance traffic safety in Phoenix."
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DISCUSSION
The Traffic Safety Council includes representatives from each city department that shares responsibility for traffic safety efforts. Currently, 40 employees from 10 city departments work on various SCRP projects. The Street Transportation Department is leading the effort and organizing the activities of the Traffic Safety Council, while using the City Manager's Vision and Values principles to promote teamwork and customer service.During the past months, the Traffic Safety Council committees have met regularly to develop ideas, and analyze and implement recommendations from their own functional areas in response to the citywide challenge to improve safety. All departments involved have strongly supported this effort.
Prior to the formation of the SCRP in August 1996, total traffic collisions in Phoenix were up 36 percent over the previous five-year period (1991-1995) and fatalities were up 54 percent during this same period. Since the program began, we have experienced a downward trend, as total collisions dropped three percent and fatalities fell nine percent between 1995 and 1996. In addition, pedestrian crashes were reduced by 23 percent during this period. In the first three months of 1997, all statistics have been even further reduced.
The recent success of the "Red Light Running" Outreach Campaign may be partly responsible for this recent decline in traffic crashes. With the federal funds received for this campaign, we were able to put traffic safety at the forefront of local TV, radio and print news.
We also provided the community with thousands of "Don't Run Red" brochures and other related traffic safety materials. The highly visible police enforcement helped to modify driver behavior and likely led to a decline in traffic crashes citywide. Preliminary results show a 25 percent decline in red light running collisions throughout Phoenix since the campaign began last year.
The Traffic Safety Council is committed to maintaining this positive trend of collision reduction by working on Severe Collision Reduction Plan activities. The committees will continue to develop programs and activities that serve to reduce the number of collisions on city streets. The Street Transportation Department will periodically update the Transportation and Communications subcommittee on the progress of this program.
The following chart summarizes the activities of each committee.
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CONCLUSION
In the upcoming months, the various Traffic Safety Council committees will be making several recommendations to City Council on programs and legislation designed to improve safety in Phoenix.
TRAFFIC SAFETY COUNCIL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SEVERE COLLISION REDUCTION PLAN
Committee Work Accomplished Ongoing Work Work Being Planned Challenges Engineering -Identified High Collision Locations
-- Total Collisions
-- Bicycle
-- Pedestrian
--Nighttime- Evaluating High Collision Areas
- Developing Collision Diagrams
-Reviewing City Policies
- Nighttime Surveillance- Group Field Investigations
- Expand Location Searches
- Before-After Studies
- Convert Signals to All-Red Phasing- Lack of Current Collision and Volume Data
-Funding Cutbacks Eliminated Key Positions and Maintenance Programs
- Finding Cost-Effective SolutionsEducation - "Red Light Running" Campaign
- Identified and Evaluated Existing Safety Materials from Each City Department- Combining Education & Enforcement - Teaching Safe Crossing for Pedestrians - Bicycle / Pedestrian Rodeos
- Another "Red Light Running" Campaign
- Elderly Pedestrian Safety Campaign
- Other Safety Campaigns- Identifying Methods to Reach Over 1 Million Phoenix Citizens
- Focus on High-Risk Groups
- Campaigns Are CostlyCollision Records - Upgraded Police Records (TADS)
- Improved Streets/Police Communication
- Improved Phx/ADOT Communication
-Purchased New Records Software (MAGIC)- Modifying State Acc. Report Form - Research of GIS Technology for Collision Records Surveillance - Purchase Pen-Based Computers
- Conversion to Single Database
- Sell Reports Electronically- Multiple Databases
- ADOT Funding/Staff Shortages
-Reliability /Timeliness of Data
-Inability to Study SegmentsEnforcement Planning - Red Light Enforcement
- Expanded DUI Enforcement
- Supported Neighborhood Traffic Team
- Faxed Notification of Serious Crashes
-Radar Enforcement Follow-up- Evaluating Photo-Enforcement
- Special Service Requests Expansion
-Developing Special Campaigns:
--Motorized Skateboard Safety
-- Commercial Vehicle Inspection- Photo - Enforcement Implement. Plan
- Comprehensive Safety Brochures
- Special Service Request Expansion
- More Equipment for Alcohol/Speed Enforcement Programs- Obtaining Voluntary Compliance
- Cost-Effective Alternatives
- Gaining Citizen Participation
- Population and Area IncreasesLegal - Drafted Bicycle Helmet Ordinance
- Researched Legal Issues:
-- Fines for Dangerous Driving
-- Civil Liability for Signal Outages
-- Graduated Licensing
--Photo-Enforcement
-- Impaired Pedestrians- Continued Support for other Traffic Safety Council Committees - Continued Support for other Traffic Safety Council Committees - Getting City-Supported Legislation Passed at the State Level Safety Resources - Identified Funding Sources
- Reviewed Potential Project Ideas- Working with other Traffic Safety Council Committees to Identify Funding Needs Funding for:
- Pen-Based Computers
- "Red Light Running" Campaign
- GIS for Collision Records
- Traffic Enforcement Personnel/ Equip.
- Preventative Maintenance Restoration
- Intersection Improvements- Identifying Sufficient Sources of Funding to Match Project, Equipment and/or Personnel Needs *Activities from August 8, 1996 to present
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