COMPARATIVE DATA IN COMPARATIVE DATA IN SUPPORT OF TRAFFIC SUPPORT OF TRAFFIC SAFETY INITIATIVESSAFETY INITIATIVES

Prepared by:

The Colorado State Patrol

Operational Development Section

Management PhilosophyManagement Philosophy“Balanced Scorecard”“Balanced Scorecard”

The “balanced scorecard” method of The “balanced scorecard” method of planning and executing a focused planning and executing a focused strategy is the means by which the strategy is the means by which the Patrol has chosen to proceed Patrol has chosen to proceed towards reaching its target goal of towards reaching its target goal of eliminating most fatalities in eliminating most fatalities in Colorado by 2025.Colorado by 2025.

Balanced Scorecard Balanced Scorecard PerspectivesPerspectives

Service PerspectiveService Perspective

Community Community PerspectivePerspective

Internal-Business-Internal-Business-Process PerspectiveProcess Perspective

Organizational Organizational Capacity PerspectiveCapacity Perspective

Making Positive Changes to Making Positive Changes to Driving BehaviorDriving Behavior

The Colorado State The Colorado State Patrol’s strategic, long-Patrol’s strategic, long-term objective is to term objective is to significantly reduce the significantly reduce the number of fatal crashes number of fatal crashes on Colorado roadways by on Colorado roadways by 2025, making Colorado 2025, making Colorado roadways one of the roadways one of the safest in the country.safest in the country.

Making Positive Changes to Making Positive Changes to Driving BehaviorDriving Behavior

Deployment StrategyDeployment Strategy

Targeting specific stretches of road Targeting specific stretches of road (“safety zones”)(“safety zones”)

Targeting specific driving behaviors Targeting specific driving behaviors (Hazardous Violations)(Hazardous Violations)

Targeting a designated time period Targeting a designated time period (Colorado Target Zero Campaign).(Colorado Target Zero Campaign).

Making Positive Changes to Making Positive Changes to Driving BehaviorDriving Behavior

Comparative data Comparative data indicates that by indicates that by increasing fines for increasing fines for Hazardous Violation Point Hazardous Violation Point Tickets (HVPT), drivers Tickets (HVPT), drivers may hesitate before may hesitate before violating laws that are violating laws that are known to cause traffic known to cause traffic crashes, thus reducing crashes, thus reducing injury and fatal crashes.injury and fatal crashes.

A Comparison of State and A Comparison of State and Municipal FinesMunicipal Fines

In comparing State fines with local cities In comparing State fines with local cities such as Fort Collins, Arvada, Lakewood, such as Fort Collins, Arvada, Lakewood, and Colorado Springs, State fines are and Colorado Springs, State fines are 42%42% lower on average. lower on average.

Colorado Springs had a dramatic reduction Colorado Springs had a dramatic reduction in crashes after increasing their fine in crashes after increasing their fine structure in 2003. The result was a structure in 2003. The result was a 35.2%35.2% reduction in a recent three year period.reduction in a recent three year period.

STATUTE NUMBER

CHARGE STATE FT. COLLINS ARVADA LAKEWOOD COLORADO SPRINGS

42-4-1101(2)(a) Speeding (10-19 MPH over Prima Facie Limit)

$50.00 $100.00 $100.00 $80.00 $150.00 (15 MPH over)

42-4-1402 Careless Driving $50.00 $100.00 $100.00 $60.00 $100.00

42-4-1008(1) Following Too Closely $35.00$100.00

.$100.00 $60.00

$100.00

42-4-121(1)(b) Backed Vehicle on (Shoulder/Roadway) of Controlled Access Highway

$15.00 $50.00 $50.00 $40.00 $70.00

42-4-1003(1)(a) Passed on Left in Unsafe Manner $35.00 $100.00 $100.00 $80.00 $100.00

42-4-1013(1) Drove Vehicle in Passing Lane When Prohibited (Posted 65 MPH or

More)

$35.00$100.00

$100.00 $80.00 $100.00

42-4-1007(1)(a) Changed Lanes When Unsafe $35.00 $75.00 $75.00 $60.00 $80.00

42-4-237(2) Drove When Safety Belt Not in Use $15.00 $25.00 $50.00 $30.00 $50.00

AVERAGE FINE $33.75 $81.25 $84.37 $61.25 $93.75

Colorado State Fine Colorado State Fine Comparison with Local Comparison with Local

MunicipalitiesMunicipalities

Research shows when comparing fines and Research shows when comparing fines and lower fatality rates, that Massachusetts, lower fatality rates, that Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and Minnesota were Connecticut, Vermont, and Minnesota were the top four ranked for lowest fatality rates as the top four ranked for lowest fatality rates as of 2005. of 2005.

Comparing traffic fines in Colorado to the four Comparing traffic fines in Colorado to the four states with the lowest fatality rates, Colorado states with the lowest fatality rates, Colorado fines are approximately three times lower.fines are approximately three times lower.

Colorado is currently ranked 18thColorado is currently ranked 18th for the for the lowest fatality rate in the United States. Prior lowest fatality rate in the United States. Prior to the implementation of our new Strategic to the implementation of our new Strategic Plan (2001) Colorado was ranked Plan (2001) Colorado was ranked 3232ndnd..

Colorado Fines as Compared to Colorado Fines as Compared to the Four States with the the Four States with the

Lowest Fatality RatesLowest Fatality Rates

Five State ComparisonFive State ComparisonSTATUTE NUMBER

CHARGE COLORADO MASSACHUSETTS CONNECTICUT VERMONT MINNESOTA

42-4-1101(2)(a) Speeding (10-19 MPH over Prima Facie Limit) 15 MPH over used as an

example.

$50.00 $100.00 $163.00 $108.00 $142.00

42-4-1402 Careless Driving $50.00 $50.00 $100.00 $199.00 $192.00

42-4-1008(1) Following Too Closely $35.00$20.00

.$103.00

.$199.00

$142.00

42-4-121(1)(b) Backed Vehicle on (Shoulder/Roadway) of Controlled Access Highway

$15.00 $50.00 $103.00 $199.00 $142.00

42-4-1003(1)(a) Passed on Left in Unsafe Manner $35.00 $100.00 $103.00 $199.00 $142.00

42-4-1013(1) Drove Vehicle in Passing Lane When Prohibited (Posted 65 MPH or

More)

$35.00 $100.00 $103.00 $199.00 $142.00

42-4-1007(1)(a) Changed Lanes When Unsafe $35.00 $100.00 $103.00 $199.00 $142.00

42-4-237(2) Drove When Safety Belt Not in Use $15.00 $25.00 $37.00 $25.00(1ST

offense)

$125.00

AVERAGE FINE $33.75 $68.12 $101.87 $165.87 $146.12

Primary Causal Factors for All Fatal and Injury Crashes Investigated by CSP

Officers in CY 2006

Rank Cause of Crash Number of Crashes Percent of Total

1 Inattentive to Driving 2,042 24.7%

2 Exceeding Safe / Legal Speed 1,406 17.0%

3 DUI Caused 1,031 12.5%

4 Lane Violation 828 10.0%

5 Following Too Closely 518 6.2%

All Others 2,449 29.6%

TOTAL FATAL & INJURY CRASHES 8,274 100.0%

SeatbeltsSeatbelts

In CY 2006, Colorado In CY 2006, Colorado experienced a total of experienced a total of 531531 fatalities. fatalities.

40.2%40.2% of these of these fatalities were fatalities were completely ejected completely ejected from their vehicles from their vehicles when seatbelts were when seatbelts were available.available.

Violations Where Increased Violations Where Increased Fines Would Support Traffic Fines Would Support Traffic

SafetySafety Inattentive to Driving Violations Inattentive to Driving Violations (All)(All)

Speeding Violations (All)Speeding Violations (All) Driving Under the InfluenceDriving Under the Influence Lane Violations (All)Lane Violations (All) Following too CloselyFollowing too Closely Signaling Violations (All)Signaling Violations (All) Safety Belt Violations (All)Safety Belt Violations (All) Traffic Control Device Violations Traffic Control Device Violations

(All)(All) Failed to Yield Right-of-Way Failed to Yield Right-of-Way

Violations (All)Violations (All) Passing Violations (All)Passing Violations (All) Improper TurnsImproper Turns

ConclusionConclusion

Targeting traffic violations that the Patrol believes are the Targeting traffic violations that the Patrol believes are the most hazardous violations by drivers would be reduced, most hazardous violations by drivers would be reduced, thus saving lives and reducing injuries on our highways, thus saving lives and reducing injuries on our highways, taking a major step towards eliminating most traffic taking a major step towards eliminating most traffic fatalities by 2025.fatalities by 2025.

Being Being “First in Traffic Safety”“First in Traffic Safety” is more than a motto. is more than a motto. Building a safe traffic environment has to be a collective Building a safe traffic environment has to be a collective effort and can only be accomplished through building effort and can only be accomplished through building strategies and forging strong relationships with other strategies and forging strong relationships with other governmental partners.governmental partners.

National AwardsNational Awards

CSP Victim’s Assistance Unit – 2006 National Professional CSP Victim’s Assistance Unit – 2006 National Professional Innovation in Victim Services AwardInnovation in Victim Services Award

Trooper Scott Hinshaw - 2006 was recognized as the best Trooper Scott Hinshaw - 2006 was recognized as the best Alive-At-Alive-At-

25 instructor.25 instructor.

In 2005 the CSP took 1In 2005 the CSP took 1stst place in the IACP Law Enforcement place in the IACP Law Enforcement Challenge.Challenge.

In 2005 the CSP won the IACP Child Passenger Safety Award.In 2005 the CSP won the IACP Child Passenger Safety Award.

In 2006 the CSP took 2In 2006 the CSP took 2ndnd place in the Championship class of place in the Championship class of the IACP Law Enforcement Challenge.the IACP Law Enforcement Challenge.