Governor Susana Martinez NMDOT Cabinet Secretary TOM CHURCH Governor’s Representative for Highway Safety Transportation Commission District One – Dr. Kenneth White District Two – David Sepich District Three – Keith Mortensen District Four – Ronald Schmeits District Five – Butch Mathews District Six – Jackson Gibson Acknowledgments The NMDOT Traffic Safety Division would like to thank Governor Susana Martinez, NMDOT Cabinet Secretary Tom Church, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, local officials and coordinators, law enforcement and other traffic safety partners and organizations for their support of Traffic Safety Division programs and initiatives during the past year. These partnerships are vital to our success in reducing crashes, fatalities and injuries on New Mexico’s roads, streets and highways. Thanks to Traffic Safety partners, TSD contractors and staff for providing information for this 2016 NMDOT/TSD Annual Report. Editor: Ilene Hall, Pricehall Research NMDOT TRAFFIC SAFETY DIVISION 2016 ANNUAL REPORT Page 2 Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................... 4 Mission Statement and Overview ....................................................................................................... 6 Traffic Safety Planning Participants/ Partners................................................................................ 6 Assessment of State’s Progress ........................................................................................................ 7 FFY16 NMDOT/TSD PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS .....................................................................13 Alcohol/ Impaired Driving Program .................................................................................................13 Occupant Protection Program ..........................................................................................................24 Police Traffic Services Program .......................................................................................................29 Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Program ......................................................................................33 Motorcycle Safety Program................................................................................................................36 Traffic Safety Enforcement Program ...............................................................................................38 Media and Marketing Program ..........................................................................................................39 Traffic Records Program ....................................................................................................................50 Driver Education and Safety Program ............................................................................................54 Planning and Administration .............................................................................................................58 2016 Project Expenditure Close-out Report ..................................................................................60 NMDOT TRAFFIC SAFETY DIVISION 2016 ANNUAL REPORT Page 3 Executive Summary The Traffic Safety Division (TSD) of the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has primary responsibility for managing safety programs designed to reduce traffic-related crashes, deaths and injuries. The NMDOT partners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Highway Safety Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and other national and local safety partners to develop and fund statewide and community-level strategies and projects that will have the greatest traffic safety impact. These strategies and projects are detailed in the annual NMDOT/TSD Highway Safety Plan (HSP). This Annual Report provides an assessment of the projects’ outcomes and their impact on achieving the 2016 HSP performance targets. These performance targets were based on 2015 data, the most current data available for this report. New Mexico's HSP includes National programs identified by NHTSA and FHWA, and State-funded programs, including: Alcohol/Impaired Driving Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Occupant Protection Media and Marketing Police Traffic Services Traffic Records Motorcycle Safety Driver Education and Safety In 2015, there were over 39,000 traffic crashes resulting in 298 fatalities and over 1,100 serious Class A* injuries. Alcohol-impairment** was a factor in 32.9 percent (98 of 298) of the fatalities. A higher percentage of urban fatalities were alcohol-involved (50%) than rural fatalities (34%). In 2016, a NHTSA-facilitated Impaired Driving Assessment was conducted to assist the State to enhance the effectiveness of its Alcohol/Impaired Driving Program. Assessment recommendations will be addressed in a revision of the NMDOT Impaired Driving Plan in 2017. Pedestrian fatalities continue to be of concern. In 2015, pedestrian fatalities were 28 percent lower than in 2014, but they are 39 percent higher than in 2010. We have increased our ‘LOOK FOR ME’ campaign to remind both drivers and pedestrians to look out for each other and stay aware. In addition, the TSD is focusing attention on the issues of distracted driving and aggressive driving, behaviors increasingly identified as contributing factors or primary causes in many traffic crashes. Drivers continue to increase their use of seatbelts and child restraints. The 2016 Statewide Seatbelt Use Survey found a 92.3 percent use rate. While this is above the National average, New Mexico’s seatbelt survey indicated that continued efforts need to be focused on those with lower seatbelt use - pickup truck drivers, drivers on local roads and nighttime drivers. New Mexico’s traffic safety efforts have achieved many positive results. The State achieved and exceeded 7 of 15 performance targets; did not meet, but reduced fatalities in 4 measures; and held steady on one measure. Data on fatality rates are not yet available. The State saw decreases from 2014 in overall fatalities, specifically in unrestrained occupant, alcohol-impaired, speeding, pedestrian, motorcyclist and unhelmeted motorcyclist fatalities and in fatal crashes involving drivers under age 21.The Traffic Records TraCS project now has 50 percent of officers in the State collecting crash and other traffic enforcement data electronically, and 30 percent of crash reports are being transmitted electronically to the State crash database. Electronic citation data transfer to the court systems and to the MVD is increasing. New Mexico continues to make steady progress in keeping its citizens safer on the roadways and will continue to do so in the coming years. * Class A injuries are defined as those requiring transport to a hospital ** Alcohol-impairment is .defined as 08 or above NMDOT TRAFFIC SAFETY DIVISION 2016 ANNUAL REPORT Page 4 2016 STATE LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY Relevant Bills Passed and Signed HB 99 — Driver’s License Issuance and Federal Real ID Ends the practice of giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants and brings the state into compliance with the federal REAL ID Act. The legislation provides for issuance of a driver’s authorization permit card to illegal immigrants which cannot be used for federal identification purposes. Fingerprints and background checks are required for illegal immigrants who wish to obtain a driver’s authorization card (which will not be granted until aliases and criminal bench warrants are resolved). Persons who want a driver’s authorization card will need to prove their identity and residency. SB 118 – Increased DWI Penalties This bill increases the penalties and mandatory period of incarceration for eighth and subsequent DWI convictions. These convictions become a second degree felony with a maximum period of incarceration of 12 years, 10 years which shall not be suspended, deferred or taken under advisement. Increases the penalty for vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; becomes a second degree felony allowing judges to increase sentences from six years to 15 years incarceration. SB 171 – Commercial Driver Use of Mobile Devices Prohibits use of handheld mobile device while driving a commercial motor vehicle; offense classified as a ‘serious traffic violation’; also designates a texting while driving offense as a ‘serious traffic violation’. Commercial motor vehicle drivers may be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for a period of time if convicted of more than one serious traffic violation while driving a commercial motor vehicle within a three-year period. SB 193 – Ski Area Alcoholic Beverage Sales This bill allows for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at ski areas. SB 270 – Off-Highway Vehicles on Paved Roads If authorized by ordinance or resolution of a local authority or the state transportation commission, an ATV may be operated on a paved street or highway owned and controlled by the authorizing entity if: (1) the vehicle has one or more headlights and taillights that comply with the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act; (2) the vehicle has brakes, mirrors and mufflers; (3) the operator has a valid driver's license, instruction permit or provisional license and an off-highway motor vehicle safety permit; (4) the operator is insured; and (5) the operator of the vehicle is wearing eye protection and a safety helmet