Program Authorization: R.S. 48:1341-1357; Act 275 of 1968; P.L. 89-564
The mission of the Administrative Program for the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is to develop and implement comprehensive strategies aimed at saving lives and preventing injuries on highways in the State of Louisiana.
The goals of the Administrative Program for the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission are:
The State and Community Highway Safety grant program is a formula grant program, directed by Department of Transportation through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in which federal funds are provided to states based on their population and road miles.
Each year the LHSC submits a statewide "Highway Safety Plan" to the NHTSA and FHWA. This plan is the basis for commission operations. Louisiana's Highway Safety Plan is developed through the analysis of traffic records data (data from accident reports, drivers license and vehicle registration files, roadway, files, traffic law violation arrests and conviction data) and highway safety project proposals received from state and local government agencies, colleges and universities, private nonprofit organizations and individuals from all political subdivisions of the state. Analysis of past and present highway initiatives are conducted to determine effectiveness and research is conducted to identify new and innovative approaches to promote traffic safety. Projects to be implemented throughout the state are selected on the basis of the magnitude and severity of the problem, over-representation of subgroups, and the possibility of impact. Programs and projects are administered in accordance with uniform guidelines from the NHTSA and FHWA. There are 18 highway safety program guidelines; however, NHTSA and FHWA have identified nine as National Priority Program Areas (NPPA) and consider them the most effective in reducing highway deaths and injuries. The nine NPPAs are: impaired driving, occupant protection, speed, traffic records, emergency medical services, police traffic services, motorcycle safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and roadway safety. Because federal funding is minimal, projects implemented by the LHSC are limited to priority program areas. There are three contributing factors associated with a traffic crash: the roadway and environment, the vehicle, and the driver. Human factors (such as driving after drinking, speeding, and not using occupant protection devices) contribute to some of the most severe traffic crashes. LHSC's Highway Safety Plan seeks to coordinate and unite state and local programs and projects to reduce traffic crashes, deaths, and injuries by focusing on enforcement, public information and education, and legislation.
It should be noted that traffic crashes and the resulting deaths and injuries cost society millions of dollars each year. Latest available statistics show the cost per fatal crash is over $2.7 million, and the cost of each fatality is over $800,000. The cost of traffic crashes in Louisiana in 1995 was over $2 billion and over $150 billion nationally. It is difficult to determine which highway safety programs are most effective and efficient in reducing the number and severity of traffic crashes; however, it is believed that all programs working in a coordinated and cohesive effort reduces to number and severity of traffic crashes.
The Administrative Program consists of the following activities: Planning, Implementation and Evaluation, Training, Public Information and Education, and Traffic Records.
OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Unless otherwise indicated, all objectives are to be accomplished during or by the end of FY 1999-2000. Performance indictors are made up of two parts: name and value. The indicator name describes what is being measured. The indicator value is the numeric value or level achieved within a given measurement period. For budgeting purposes, performance indicator values are shown for the prior fiscal year, the current fiscal year, and alternative funding scenarios (continuation budget level and Executive Budget recommendation level) for the ensuing fiscal year (the fiscal year of the budget document).
RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM
This program is funded with Interagency Transfers, Fees and Self-generated Revenues, and Federal Funds. The Interagency Transfers, which provides for the data entry of property damage information from accident reports, are derived from the Department of Transportation and Development. The Fees and Self-generated Revenues are derived from a drivers license reinstatement fee charged persons ticketed with driving while intoxicated and various other motor vehicle fees. The Federal Funds are provided by the Federal Department of Transportation under the authority of the Highway Safety Act of 1966 P.L. 89, Chapter 4, Title 23 USC.
ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATION
The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 95.2 of the existing operating budget. It represents 97.0% of the total request ($4,076,051) for this program. The significant adjustments include the removal of nonrecurring carry forward grants and equipment, reduced risk management premiums, and reduced funding for acquisitions. An adjustment adding federal grant funding was also done to reflect the anticipated amount of federal funds to be received.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
OTHER CHARGES