Citation

Knapp KK. Transp. Res. Rec. 2011; 2213: 29-36.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.3141/2213-05

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Many factors that contribute to fatal crashes are related to human behavior. One way to adjust these behaviors is to enact and enforce legislation-based safety improvement measures (LSIMs). The objective of the project documented in this paper was to investigate the feasibility and application of a research-based rural safety policy improvement index (RSPII) framework that could be used to quantify the state-by-state impacts of LSIMs on crash fatalities on rural roadways. During this project, NCHRP Report 622 was published. It categorized 23 behavioral highway safety countermeasures as proven with high-quality research. A review of the research and NCHRP Report 622 showed that a RSPII was feasible. A six-step RSPII framework was developed, and six LSIMs were selected for further consideration: primary enforcement of seat belt use, universal motorcycle helmet use, regular application of sobriety checkpoints, graduated driver licensing program upgrades, mandatory ignition interlock installation, and automated speed enforcement. A state-by-state estimate (based on current research) of how enactment and proper implementation and enforcement of these LSIMs could reduce crash fatalities on rural roadways was completed. The national fatality reductions estimated for each LSIM ranged from 120 to 699. This paper describes the RSPII feasibility investigation, summarizes the six-step RSPII framework, presents the national results from the framework application, discusses the challenges related to the framework application, and gives recommendations for using and improving the RSPII framework.