2006 Highway Safety Annual Report
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Connecticut Highway Safety Federal Fiscal Year 2006 Prepared by Connecticut Department of Transportation Bureau of Policy and Planning Transportation Safety Section P.O. Box 317546 2800 Berlin Turnpike Newington, Connecticut 06131-7546 INTRODUCTION ................................................... 1 CRASH DATA/TRENDS ....................................... 4 PERFORMANCE GOALS AND TRENDS............ 7 FINANCIAL SUMMARY .................................... 15 PROGRAM AREAS.............................................. 17 Police Traffic Services......................................... 23 Occupant Protection............................................. 26 Child Passenger Safety ........................................ 28 Roadway Safety ................................................... 31 Motorcycle Safety................................................ 32 Traffic Records .................................................... 34 PAID MEDIA REPORT........................................ 36 NOTEWORTHY PRACTICES............................. 46 LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.............................. 50 INTRODUCTION The Connecticut Department of Transportation’s (Department) mission is to provide a safe, efficient, and cost-effective transportation system that meets the mobility needs of its users. The Department is committed to saving lives and preventing injuries by reducing the number and severity of traffic crashes that occur on Connecticut’s roadways. This Annual Report contains information on initiatives, projects, and financial expenditures of Connecticut’s Highway Safety Program for federal fiscal year 2006. The highlights of this reporting period reflect a reduction in the number of injuries and alcohol-related fatalities, a decrease in injuries to motorcycle operators, and an increase in occupant restraint usage. Fatal crashes in Connecticut decreased 13 percent between 2000 and 2004 (341 vs. 277). The greatest number of fatal crashes occurred on State highways, followed by local roads. More drivers between the ages of 25 to 34 and 35 to 44 were involved in fatal crashes than drivers in any other age group. During the 2000 to 2004 period, the most prevalent driver-related factor in fatal crashes was “failure to keep in proper lane or running off road,” reported for 67 percent of all drivers (in 2004). “Speeding/racing” was the second most commonly cited factor, reported for approximately 23 to 35 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes each year. In 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data described speeding as a “contributing factor” in 36.6 percent of the State’s fatal motor vehicle crashes.* Nationally, in 2003, speed was a contributing factor in 30.5 percent of fatal crashes, indicating that Connecticut’s experience was higher than that of the nation as a whole. Fatalities in Connecticut decreased 15 percent over the 5-year period from 2000 to 2004 (342 vs. 291), compared to increases of 7 percent in the New England region and 1.5 percent nationwide. In Connecticut, all three measures of the fatality rates—vehicle miles traveled (VMT), population, and licensed drivers—were considerably lower than the national rates each year. Driver fatalities in Connecticut fell 10 percent between 2000 and 2004 (223 vs. 201), compared to an increase of 12 percent in the region and 5 percent nationally. Fatalities were highest among persons ages 25 to 34 and over, followed by persons ages 35 to 44. Alcohol-related fatal crashes in Connecticut fluctuated between 100 and 136 over the 5-year study period. Alcohol-related fatalities decreased 27 percent over the 5 years (146 vs. 107). Alcohol-related fatal crashes were most likely to occur June through September (40 percent), on Saturday and Sunday (46 percent), and between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. (65 percent). Testing for Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) was performed on 49 to 62 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes in Connecticut, compared to 70 percent nationally. In 2004, Connecticut recorded BAC test results for 59 percent of fatally injured drivers and 20 percent of surviving drivers involved in fatal crashes, with both rates having fallen below the national figures of 64 percent and 25 percent respectively. Of the fatally injured drivers in Connecticut, 38 percent had a BAC of .08 percent or higher, compared to 35 percent in the region and 34 percent nationwide. From 2000 to 2004 fatally injured Connecticut drivers in the 21 to 34 age group were the most likely to be intoxicated (42 percent). Of the fatally injured drivers under the legal drinking age of 21, 28 percent had a BAC of .08 percent or higher. Safety belt use in Connecticut increased from 76 percent in 2000 to 82 percent in 2005, exceeding the national seat belt usage rate each year. The proportion of fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants who were not restrained was below the national average in each year from 1999 to 2005. The use rates for those who survived crashes ranged from a low of 50 percent for those 21 to 24 years of age to 89 percent of those under the age of 5. Safety in highway construction or work zones is important to both motorists passing through and personnel working at these sites. Work-zone-related fatal and A-injury, or serious crashes, continued to decline. During the 2000 to 2004 period, the number of serious crashes fluctuated from a high of 33 in 2000 to a low of 18 in 2004. During the 5-year period from 2000 to 2004, motorcyclist fatalities decreased 26 percent in Connecticut, compared to a 23 percent decrease in the New England region and a 47 percent increase nationwide. From 2000 to 2004, there were 4,733 fatal and injury crashes involving motorcycles; 220 operators/passengers were killed and 4,883 were injured in these crashes. Seventy-one percent of the motorcyclists killed were not wearing helmets, compared to approximately 50 percent of the fatalities in the New England region and nationwide. Speed was more likely to be a factor among motorcycle operator fatalities in Connecticut (52 percent). In addition, 39 percent of the motorcycle operators killed had a BAC at or equal to 0.01 percent, compared to a regional rate of 36 percent and a national rate of 29 percent. The Traffic Records program has been making progress over the past several years. A self- assessment was completed in 2004 to provide an updated blueprint of program status, for use and reference by all highway stakeholders. Data improvements continue to be made in the areas related to motor vehicles, base mapping, toxicology, electronic data capture, citation tracking, fatality analysis, and emergency medical services. 2004 Connecticut Motor Vehicle Crash Profile* Total Crashes 81,770 +1.1 percent With Fatalities (FARS) 277 +1.5 percent With Property Damage Only (FARS) 50,630 +1.9 percent With Injuries (FARS) 30,863 -0.3 percent Number of Fatalities 291 -1.0 percent Drivers 201 +7.5 percent Passengers 58 -15.8 percent Motorcyclists 57 +97.0 percent Other 32 -16.0 percent Number of Injuries 44,267 -1.7 percent Severe (A) injury 2,683 -1.8 percent Moderate (B) injury 10,487 -3.6 percent Minor (C) injury 31,097 -1.1 percent * Percent change 2004 vs. 2003; data on “fatal” crashes are from NHTSA FARS; data on “injury” and “property damage only” crashes are from the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Collision Analysis System; “other” includes pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorists. Enforcement efforts with their high degree of visibility are presumed contributing factors for Connecticut’s improved safety record. Many local police departments participate in mutual aid compacts to enhance enforcement efforts, including checkpoint and media activity. Focus areas include impaired driving, occupant restraint, child passenger safety, speeding, and red light running. The success of the Highway Safety Program is contingent on cooperation and coordination with safety partners and the motoring public. NHTSA and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) continue to provide leadership and technical assistance. Various state agencies are active participants, including the Department of Public Safety/State Police, the State Police Toxicology Laboratory, the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, and the Office of Policy and Management. Local law enforcement agencies, through coordinated efforts with Connecticut Police Chiefs’ Association, are also essential partners. Schools, civic and non-profit groups (including MADD, the Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking, SAFE KIDS, and the Connecticut Motorcycle Riders Association), and private sector and business organizations all serve as cooperative partners. Connecticut also actively participates in the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and the National Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators. CRASH DATA/TRENDS Crash Data / Trends Baseline Data 1995-1999 Progress Report Data 1996 - 2005 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Fatalities (Actual) 317 310 338 329 301 342 312 322 294 305 Fatality Trend 314 322 324 319 323 321 321 318 317 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Fatality Rate / 100 M illion (VM T) 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.0 1.0 0.9 1.0 Fatality Rate Trend 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1