907.5 Safety Resources for Locals: Difference between revisions

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The [[media:905.1 HAL Manual.pdf|HAL Manual]] is a term used for the ''Manual on Identification, Analysis and Correction of High-Crash-Locations'' (Third Edition - 1999).  The First Edition of the HAL Manual was published in 1975.  The  HAL Manual allowed local, non-MoDOT agencies to
There are several resources available to local agencies from both federal and state sources. This article is intended to help give some direction to what resources are available and where to find them.
[[image:905.1 HAL Manual.gif|right|375px|thumb|<center>'''[[media:905.1 HAL Manual.pdf|The HAL Manual]] is not MoDOT policy but a supplemental document to the EPG.'''</center>]]
:*Develop a traffic record system (Chap 2)
:*Identify high crash locations (Chap 3)
:*Analyze high crash locations (Chap 4)
:*Correct high crash locations (Chap 5) and
:*Evaluate the benefits of correcting high crash locations (Chap 6).


While the HAL Manual was intended for local agencies and law enforcement, it has become a tool for MoDOT personnel as well.  The HAL Manual is not MoDOT policy, but only a supplemental document to the Engineering Policy Guide (EPG). Any information in the HAL Manual that relates to topics in the EPG, the EPG takes precedence.
==Agencies and Programs==
There are three main agencies or programs that produce resources supporting local activities and programs. They are the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), and the Missouri Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP). Each agency offers different types of support. General information about each can be found on their websites. 
* [https://highways.dot.gov/field-offices/missouri Missouri Division FHWA]
* [https://www.modot.org/about-traffic-safety MoDOT Traffic Safety]
* [https://mltrc.mst.edu/moltaphome/ LTAP]


{|style="padding: 0.3em; margin-right:7px; border:2px solid #a9a9a9; text-align:center; font-size: 95%; background:#f5f5f5" width="260px" align="left"
In addition to the general information, there are specific resources that have been produced. A brief description of those resources and where to find more detailed information is included here.
|-
|'''Additional Information'''
==Federal Based Resources==
|-
* [https://highways.dot.gov/safety FHWA Highway Safety Programs] – This is a comprehensive website that houses many different safety resources including information on the Highway Safety Manual (HSM), the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), the Safe Systems Approach, and much more. 
|MoDOT’s safety engineers constantly search for the best practices in the field to improve Missouri roadways’ safety.
* [https://highways.dot.gov/safety/proven-safety-countermeasures Proven Safety Countermeasures] – These are a collection of strategies that have been shown to reduce fatalities and serious injuries throughout our nation’s highways. 
|-
* [https://highways.dot.gov/safety/pedestrian-bicyclist/step/resources Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP)] – This is a program focused on pedestrian safety and provides options for where and when to deploy systemic cost-effective countermeasures.
|[http://wwwi.gh.modot.local/intranet/tr/safety/ Safety Engineering]
* [https://highways.dot.gov/safety/local-rural/improving-safety-rural-local-and-tribal-roads-safety-toolkit/step-2-conduct FHWA Network Screening] – This is information specific to what to consider and how to conduct a safety analysis of your roadway network.  
|-
* [https://highways.dot.gov/safety/data-analysis-tools/rsdp/rsdp-tools/highway-safety-manual-part-c-spreadsheets HSM Spreadsheets] – These are the Excel-based tools that were developed by FHWA to apply the analysis outlined in the HSM. 
|[http://www.modot.mo.gov/safety/Safety_Engineering/index.htm Safety Engineering]
* [https://cmfclearinghouse.fhwa.dot.gov/ Crash Modification Factor (CMF) Clearinghouse] – This is the database of produced CMFs that have been determined by various research efforts nationally. 
|}
* [https://nap.nationalacademies.org/author/NCHRP/transportation-research-board/national-cooperative-highway-research-program National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Documents] – These are various research documents that have been completed with the focus of areas that effect “highway planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance”.


MoDOT has developed a traffic record system focused on the state maintained roadways and is developing the non-state maintained system.  MoDOT’s traffic record system is also called the [http://tmshome Transportation Management System (TMS)].  The TMS system uses roadway and crash information to develop High Severity lists for intersections and ranges. Districts are responsible to review these lists to develop their safety program strategies.
==State Based Resources ==
* [https://www.mltrc.org/mltrc/Safety_Circuit_Rider.asp Safety Circuit Rider] – This program has the goal of supporting local agencies with various technical needs. 
* [https://epg.modot.org/forms/general_files/TS/SAFER_Document.pdf Safety Assessment For Every Roadway (SAFER)] – This is a program the intent of promoting safety on all projects and asking the right questions within project development. 
* [https://www.savemolives.com/mcrs SaveMOLives] – This is a website that has information about the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety. This includes the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), behavioral program information, data dashboards, and more. 
* [https://www.modot.org/modatazone MO DataZone Toolbox] – This is a collection of various resources that MoDOT maintains. These include areas of safety, traffic, planning, etc. 
* [https://datazoneapps.modot.mo.gov/ExternalAccess/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2FExternalAccess%2F Crash Statistics Map] – This is within the MO DataZone Toolbox under safety resources. This resource is maintained by MoDOT and is for the ability to look up crash information that has been received from the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) in a map-based format. This is only accessible to MoDOT planning partners and those working on MoDOT projects.  You can log in or request access on the external site. 
* [https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/TR15Map/index.jsp MSHP Crash Map] – This is a map that shows the current year’s fatal crashes and is maintained by MSHP.
* [https://www.modot.org/research-publications MoDOT Research Publications] – These are the final reports of the various research projects that MoDOT has conducted. The findings can be useful for more state specific data and can address more MoDOT specific initiatives.
* [https://epg.modot.org/files/3/35/907.5_SHAL.pdf Safety Handbook for Locals (S-HAL)] – This is a manual that is geared toward providing additional guidance and information to local agencies and law enforcement. It includes topics such as performing network screening, using safety analysis tools, implementing safety improvement, and more.


While identifying high crash corridors, Chapter 3 of the [[media:905.1 HAL Manual.pdf|HAL Manual]] explains some of the types of crash rates used when comparing locations.  When comparing locations for a safety analysis, crashes are typically normalized by rate.  Some of the rates covered by the HAL Manual that are used in MoDOT studies include:


:* Number of crashes
[[Category:907 Traffic Safety|907.05]]
:* Crash severity (EPDO – Equivalent Property Damage Only)
:* Crash rate
:* Number-Rate
:* Severity Rate (EPDO by rate)
:* Number-Quality-Control & Rate-Quality-Control
 
After high crash locations are identified, Chapter 4 of the HAL Manual recommends information to gather to complete a traffic study.  The procedure outlined in the HAL Manual can be applied to any request for a field study.  The first recommendation is to review crashes and complete a collision diagram.  A collision diagram (HAL Manual, Figure 4-1) is a spot map that shows where crashes are occurring, either within the intersection or along the range.  The collision diagram will show the vehicle action, angle of collision and general location of the crash compared to the roadway.  Other information important to the crash is included such as date, time of day, roadway/weather conditions, crash severity, etc.  The TMS Accident Browser application uses computer software to produce an automated collision diagram for a single intersection.  The collision diagram aids in identifying the predominant crash pattern at that location.
 
Another process in a traffic study is to perform an on-site observation.  Depending on the crash history, it may be important to perform the observation both during the day and at night.  The location should be driven from each direction.  If there is a possibility for pedestrian travel, the location should be walked in order to view the road, as a pedestrian would experience it.  The on-site report (HAL Manual, Figure 4-2) should identify the location of the observation points, identify potential hazards by making a physical checklist, make notations regarding pedestrian and driver activity, take photos and interview local people for their observations of the location.  When identifying potential hazards, it is important to draw a condition diagram (HAL Manual, Figure 4-3), a drawing (to scale, if practical), of the existing roadway, control device locations and major features in the nearby environment.  The condition diagram may also include physical road conditions, signing, striping, etc. that may be important in determining a countermeasure analysis.  Also included when performing a field observation are traffic counts, spot speed studies and sight distance evaluations.  The HAL Manual has included worksheets to assist in the development of the location analysis (HAL Manual, Figure 4-4).
 
According to Chapter 5 of the [[media:905.1 HAL Manual.pdf|HAL Manual]], after the locations have been identified, crashes analyzed and field data gathered, the corrective actions are determined.  With most locations, there are potential low cost solutions, medium cost solutions, and high cost solutions.  Appendix B in the HAL Manual helps determine probable causes for crash patterns and general countermeasures.  Since the HAL Manual was last produced in 1999, the NCHRP 500 series has been studied and published to help determine probable cause and select countermeasures.  The NCHRP 500 series is more up-to-date with current engineering practices than the existing HAL Manual.
 
When the potential countermeasures are identified, they need to be compared through a benefit/cost (B/C) analysis.  A B/C analysis compares the estimated cost of the countermeasure compared to the benefit expected through crashes reduced.  Figure 5-1 of the HAL Manual has spreadsheets available to assist in calculating a B/C analysis .  The most practical countermeasure may not have the most favorable benefit/cost ratio.  To help calculate a B/C, Appendix G is used to estimate crash reduction factors for most improvement types.  There is currently a national effort to develop a Highway Safety Manual that will include the most current estimated crash reduction factors.
 
When using Safety Funds, a project evaluation is needed to determine whether the selected countermeasures are effective.  To do this, a before/after (B/A) safety analysis should be performed.  For a B/A study, the crash history of a location is reviewed for a 3- to 5-year period before and after the installation/construction of the countermeasure (HAL Manual, Figure 5-2).  An evaluation can also be calculated to determine the actual B/C ratio based on actual costs and crashes reduced (HAL Manual, Figure 6-1).
 
[[Category:907 Traffic Safety]]

Latest revision as of 07:54, 10 September 2025

There are several resources available to local agencies from both federal and state sources. This article is intended to help give some direction to what resources are available and where to find them.

Agencies and Programs

There are three main agencies or programs that produce resources supporting local activities and programs. They are the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), and the Missouri Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP). Each agency offers different types of support. General information about each can be found on their websites.

In addition to the general information, there are specific resources that have been produced. A brief description of those resources and where to find more detailed information is included here.

Federal Based Resources

  • FHWA Highway Safety Programs – This is a comprehensive website that houses many different safety resources including information on the Highway Safety Manual (HSM), the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), the Safe Systems Approach, and much more.
  • Proven Safety Countermeasures – These are a collection of strategies that have been shown to reduce fatalities and serious injuries throughout our nation’s highways.
  • Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP) – This is a program focused on pedestrian safety and provides options for where and when to deploy systemic cost-effective countermeasures.
  • FHWA Network Screening – This is information specific to what to consider and how to conduct a safety analysis of your roadway network.
  • HSM Spreadsheets – These are the Excel-based tools that were developed by FHWA to apply the analysis outlined in the HSM.
  • Crash Modification Factor (CMF) Clearinghouse – This is the database of produced CMFs that have been determined by various research efforts nationally.
  • National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Documents – These are various research documents that have been completed with the focus of areas that effect “highway planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance”.

State Based Resources

  • Safety Circuit Rider – This program has the goal of supporting local agencies with various technical needs.
  • Safety Assessment For Every Roadway (SAFER) – This is a program the intent of promoting safety on all projects and asking the right questions within project development.
  • SaveMOLives – This is a website that has information about the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety. This includes the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), behavioral program information, data dashboards, and more.
  • MO DataZone Toolbox – This is a collection of various resources that MoDOT maintains. These include areas of safety, traffic, planning, etc.
  • Crash Statistics Map – This is within the MO DataZone Toolbox under safety resources. This resource is maintained by MoDOT and is for the ability to look up crash information that has been received from the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) in a map-based format. This is only accessible to MoDOT planning partners and those working on MoDOT projects. You can log in or request access on the external site.
  • MSHP Crash Map – This is a map that shows the current year’s fatal crashes and is maintained by MSHP.
  • MoDOT Research Publications – These are the final reports of the various research projects that MoDOT has conducted. The findings can be useful for more state specific data and can address more MoDOT specific initiatives.
  • Safety Handbook for Locals (S-HAL) – This is a manual that is geared toward providing additional guidance and information to local agencies and law enforcement. It includes topics such as performing network screening, using safety analysis tools, implementing safety improvement, and more.
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