Safety Partnership for

US-2

Michigan Traffic Safety Summit2007

S.A.B.R.E.SpeedAggressive DrivingBeltsRuralEnforcement

Why the Concern on US-2?

– History of serious traffic crashes on US-2– Public perception of an unsafe highway– Michigan Strategic Highway Safety Plan

Reduce to 1.0 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled by 2008

How it all Began…• Construction of Passing Relief Lanes to

increase safe passing– MDOT

• 2003-2004 Passing Relief Lane Study east of Rapid River to increase safe passing– MDOT (OHSP)

• Study by Wayne State in 2005 to determine types and cause of crashes along US-2 (alcohol and weather not a factor)

• 2005 US-2 Safety Partnership

Partners– County Sheriff Departments (Mackinac,

Schoolcraft, Delta)– Local Chambers of Commerce (Mackinac and

Schoolcraft County)– Local Police Departments (St. Ignace,

Manistique)– Michigan Center for Truck Safety– MDOT (Region, Newberry TSC, & Escanaba TSC)– MSP (St. Ignace, Newberry, Manistique,

Gladstone Posts, Motor Carrier and O.H.S.P.)– Upper Peninsula Governor’s Office– Upper Peninsula Tourism Council

Goal• Increase safe driving habits

through the four Es of highway safety:– Enforcement– Engineering– Education– Emergency Response

• Decrease speed, aggressive driving and severe crashes

Making it come together

• 2005 - Monthly planning sessions– Oct-May– MDOT, MSP, OHSP

• 2006 - Monthly status sessions– June-Sept– All partners

Enforcement Operations• Developed 16 MSP Enforcement Zones

on US-2 from Rapid River to St. Ignace– Setup “Wolfpack” Operation with 3 patrol

cars and one Sergeant (unmarked car) running Lidar

– 2 locations, one on east end and one on west end of US-2

– Ran operation from 10am-6pm. Would break, run freelance, set up again at different location

• MSP and Local Enforcement along US-2 also ran directed patrols on unscheduled dates.

Enforcement Operations(Continued)

• 2005– 22 dates, May 15-Sept 15– 12 dates were funded by overtime (382 hours

from OHSP and 98 from MSP) utilizing Tprs. from St. Ignace, Newberry, Manistique, and Gladstone

– 10 dates were “Extra Patrols” utilizing above posts plus Tprs. From Sault Ste. Marie, Munisng and Negaunee (non-overtime)

• 2006– 36 dates, May 1-Oct 31 (extended it a

month)– 10 dates funded by overtime(384 hours from

OHSP and 96 from MSP)– 26 dates were “Extra Patrols” (non-overtime)

Enforcement Operations(Continued)

• 2007– 22 dates, May 5-Sept 14– 14 dates funded by overtime (336 hours

from OHSP and 112 from MSP) utilizing Tprs. from St. Ignace, Newberry, and Manistique

– 13 dates to be “Extra Patrols” utilizing above posts plus Tprs. From Sault Ste. Marie, Munisng and Negaunee (non-overtime)

– Not running “Wolfpack” and utilizing 2 cars on each end instead of 3 for freelance operation

– Operation will still run from 10a-6p

Engineering

• 2005– “Headlights On For Safety” signs (4)– Passing relief lane signs:

• “Passing Lane X Miles, Next Passing Lane X Miles”• “X Passing Lanes in next X Miles”• Additional 55 mph and increased to Freeway size

– Changeable Message Sign west of St. Ignace– Reviewed and updated passing sight distance in

No Passing Zones– Shoulder rumble strips - Gladstone to Rapid River

Engineering

• 2006– Radar Sign installation at St. Ignace– “US-2 is NOT a Freeway, Drive Safely”

Engineering

• 2007– Increased letter size and Clearview font– Shoulder Rumble Strips - FF Hwy 13 to M-183– Additional Passing Lane on US-2– “Maintain Speed, Allow Safe Passing” for 3 prls

Education• 2005

– 100,000 Placemats & 10,000 Flyers– Banners placed along US-2– Public Service Announcements– Media Event for Kick off (St. Ignace

and Rapid River)– Combined effort with other

campaigns• Click it or ticket• You drink, you drive, you lose

– Naubinway Townhall Meeting

Education• 2006

– 60,000 Placemats– Banners placed along US-2– Public Service Announcements– Media Event for Kick off (St. Ignace

and Rapid River)– Combined effort with other

campaigns• Click it or ticket• You drink, you drive, you lose

– Plaques for the back of trucks

Truck Plaque

Measuring the Results….

•Enforcement Statistics

•Crash Data•Speed Studies

2005 Enforcement Statistics– Enforcement Contacts: 3,503

– Traffic Stops: 2,889– OWI Arrests: 7– Other Alcohol Arrests: 14– Speed Citations: 1,930– Other Citations: 265– Verbal Warnings: 1,198– Seat Belt Citations: 56– Child Restraint Citations: 5– Felony Arrests: 5– Misdemeanor/Fugitive Arrests: 23

– Total Operation Hours 2,011

2006 Enforcement Statistics– Enforcement Contacts: 3,035

– Traffic Stops: 2,595– OWI Arrests: 5– Other Alcohol Arrests: 9– Speed Citations: 1,743– Other Citations: 175– Verbal Warnings: 1,046– Seat Belt Citations: 34– Child Restraint Citations: 3– Felony Arrests: 8– Misdemeanor/Fugitive Arrests: 15

– Total Operation Hours 1,966

Crash Data• Lane departures

– Head on– Rear end– Side swipe

• Dry pavement and day light hours• Alcohol was not a major

contributor• Human factors

– Fall asleep– Aggressive passing– Speed

Fatal Crashes from 1996 to 2006

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Fatal Crashes

Number Killed

2005 Speed Study Data for

85th Percentile– Pre – Operation

• 2 lane section of road – 85th percentile speed = 65 mph

• 4 lane passing relief– 85th percentile speed = 67 mph

– Post – Operation • 2 lane section of road

– 85th percentile speed = 64 mph• 4 lanes passing relief

– 85th percentile speed = 65 mph

– Observed speed reduction of 1 - 2 mph.

2006 Speed Study Data for

85th Percentile– Pre – Operation

• 2 lane section of road – 85th percentile speed = 64 mph

• 4 lane passing relief– 85th percentile speed = 65 mph

– Post – Operation • 2 lane section of road

– 85th percentile speed = 64 mph• 4 lanes passing relief

– 85th percentile speed = 66 mph

– Consistent with 2005 post operation results

FUTURE OF SABRE -Region Wide Implementation-

• Six additional “Headlights On For Safety” signs at border crossings

• Shoulder Rumble Strips• Passing Sight Distance Reviews• Attempt to run SABRE on other

stretches of roadway (US-41 Negaunee, M-28 Munising, US-2 Iron Mountain)