2/20/03: According
to AASHTO, The average U.S. crash rate remains unchanged.
One out of every 84 born today will die violently
in a motor vehicle crash. Six out of every 10
children will be injured in a highway crash over a lifetime, many
of them more than once
About
42,000 people are killed and an additional three million
are injured in a motor vehicle crash each year.
The NHTSA research budget
gets 58 billion dollars per year while the National Institute of
Dental and Craniofacial Research gets 289 million-while motor vehicle
crashes are the forth leading cause of death.
The Table below lists roadside fixed objects
most frequently struck in 1994. Total Fatalities in 1994 were 40,676
people. Every day more than 100 people are killed and
around 6000 injured and incapacitated.
Fixed Objects
Crashes |
Fatalities
for 1994 |
Percent
of
Fatalities |
Percent of Fixed
Object Fatalities |
| Trees |
3141 |
4.7 |
27.1 |
| Embankment |
1126 |
2.8 |
10.2 |
| Guardrail |
1126 |
2.8 |
10.1 |
| Utility Pole |
1098 |
2.7 |
9.9 |
| Curb or Wall |
826 |
2.0 |
7.4 |
| Ditch |
803 |
2.0 |
7.2 |
| Culvert |
578 |
1.4 |
5.2 |
| Other Fixed Object |
533 |
1.3 |
4.8 |
| Fence |
442 |
1.1 |
4.0 |
| Sign or Light Support |
431 |
1.1 |
3.9 |
| Bridge |
428 |
1.1 |
3.8 |
| Misc. Pole or Support |
367 |
0.9 |
3.3 |
| Concrete/other Barrier |
217 |
0.5 |
1.9 |
| Building |
76 |
0.2 |
0.7 |
| Impact Attenuator |
28 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
| Fire Hydrant |
27 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
| Total |
11,135 |
27.4 |
100.0% |
Safety Bang For The Buck:
The first number is the ranking, and the second number indicates the dollar value return
for every dollar spent to correct these problems. If we spent $30 million to upgrade
guardrails the total saving would be $225 million. We need the officials to figure the
cost benefit ratio of rumble strips. Rumble strips would most likely be very high due to
low cost and high return.
Rank: Next is improvement description : Benefit-Cost ratio:
| 1. Illuminations |
26.8 |
11. Upgrade Bridge
Rail |
6.9 |
2. Upgrade
Median Barrier |
22.6 |
12. Improve Sight
Distance |
6.1 |
3. Traffic
Signs |
22.4 |
13. Median for
Traffic Separation |
6.1 |
4. Relocated/Breakaway
Utility Poles |
17.7 |
14. Groove Pavement
for Skid |
5.8 |
5. Remove
Obstacles |
10.7 |
15. Improve Minor
Structures |
5.3 |
6. New Traffic
Signals |
8.5 |
16. Turning Lanes
& Channelization |
4.5 |
7. Impact
Attenuators |
8.0 |
17. New RR
Crossing Gates |
3.4 |
8. New Median
Barrier |
7.6 |
18. New RR Crossing
Flashing Lights |
3.1 |
9. Upgrade
Guardrail |
7.5 |
19. Pavement Marking
and Delineation |
3.1 |
10. Upgrade Traffic
Signals |
7.4 |
20. New RR Crossing
Lights and Gates |
2.9 |
Airbag Statistics: (FHWA)
| Object Struck |
Percent Change in Severity |
| Tree |
-29.6% |
| Utility Pole |
-35.2% |
| Guardrail(North Carolina) |
-53.6% |
| Guardrail(Illinois) |
-40.4% |
| Guardrail End or Terminal |
-55.0% |
| Ditch/Embankment |
+53.6% |
The raise in the ditch/embankment
crashes is probably due to the loss of momentary vision. The overall improvement makes
airbags well worth the risk in adults of normal size.
This is a deadly Raytown, Missouri railroad bridge. There
are no guardrails on the approach to the bridge and the guardrails on the bridge are
cheap, rotten wood. When hit, the wood can come into the car killing the
occupant. The car will also go through the rail and crash below. There have
been two recent fatalities at this location. We wrote Mayor Nesbitt several months
ago and have had no response. The family has had little cooperation from the city of
Raytown in removing this hazard.
