Program A: Administrative

Program Authorization: R.S. 48:1341-1357; Act 275 of 1968; P.L. 89-564

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Administrative Program is to administer the state's highway safety grant program in accordance with the provisions of the Highway Safety Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-564) and federal rules and regulations.

The goals of the Administrative Program are:

1. Reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes, deaths, and injuries.

2. Improve the program's internal organization through policy, structure, and communication.

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.

The following table provides summary information on LHSC operating and grants programs.

1 School bus safety and motorcycle safety are the responsibility of the Department of Education; however, the LHSC considers these activities to be underfunded.

OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

1. The Administrative Program will obtain federal funding on an annual basis for an ongoing, successful multi-faceted highway safety program based upon problem identification and objective assessment reflecting state-of-the-art countermeasure technology and implementation if the Louisiana Safety Management System to reduce the total number of fatal and injury crashes by 1% through 1999.

1 Calendar Year 1996.

2 Calendar Year 1997.

3 Calendar Year 1998.

4 Preliminary data. Calendar Year 1997 Vehicle Miles Traveled not available until June, 1998.

Explanatory Note: Rates measure reduction of risk based on exposure. Reducing fatalities and injuries with an increase in vehicle miles travelled (increase in exposure) represents a reduction in risk. The Highway Safety Commission measures success by reducing the travelling public's risk of being killed or seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash.

Explanatory Note: One of three contributing factors (alcohol, speed, or no seat belt used) is found in 89% of non-pedestrian facilities. Any effort to significantly reduce traffic accident fatalities has to address these three contributing factors.

Explanatory Note: the Louisiana Safety Management System (SMS) was established in 1995 and consists of federal, state, and local transportation agencies (the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, state and local law enforcement agencies, emergency response agencies, motor carrier safety personnel, motor vehicle administrators, public health officials, the railroad and trucking industries, and safety advocacy groups). Some of the areas to be addressed by the SMS are improving traffic safety in work zones, reduction of intersection crashes involving red light running, highway-railroad grade crossing safety and incident management.

2. The Administrative Program will reduce alcohol-involved traffic fatalities in Louisiana to 42% in Calendar Year 1998.

1 Calendar Year 1996.

2 Calendar Year 1997.

3 Calendar Year 1998.

Explanatory Note: Alcohol is the primary contributing factor in traffic crashes throughout the country, representing approximately 43% of all traffic deaths nationally. in Louisiana, alcohol-related fatalities increased to 45.6 in 1995. In 1995, the blood alcohol concentration for drivers tested in fatal crashes in Louisiana was above the legal limit (.10) up 73% of the cases. the blood alcohol concentration for drivers tested in injury crashes was above the legal limit in 84% of the cases.

Louisiana Highway Safety Commission (LHSC) projects planned for FY 1998-99 will strive to reduce the number of alcohol-related fatalities in Louisiana by 5%. For example, the LHSC will continue the "Safe and Sober" Statewide Public information and Education Campaign during FY 1999-2000

3. The Administrative Program will reduce the number of traffic crashes in Louisiana due to speed by 2.5% by 2000.

1 Calendar Year 1996.

2 Calendar Year 1997.

3 Calendar Year 1998.

Explanatory Note: Traffic crashes where speeding is a primary contributing factor re over-represented in most Louisiana fatal crashes. In 1995, speeding was a major contributing factor in 29% of the fatal crashes that occurred in Louisiana.

4. The Administrative Program will increase safety belt and child safety seat usage statewide to 85% by 2000 and maintain 100% motor cycle helmet usage rate through 1998.

1 Calendar Year 1996.

2 Calendar Year 1997.

3 Calendar Year 1998.

Explanatory Note: Crash data reveal that, in 1995, seat belt usage was only 23% for driver killed in crashes and 22% for passengers killed in crashes.

As seat belt usage increases, injuries decrease. For instance, seat belt usage was 79% for drivers who suffered no injuries. In crashes where seat belts were not used, 1 out of 21 drivers died; whereas in crashes where seat belts were used, 1 out of 298 drivers died. Similarly, in crashes where seat belts were not used, 1 out of 46 passengers died and in crashes where seat belts were used, 1 out of 370 passengers died.

In Louisiana, the safety belt use rate for passenger vehicles is 67%; the national usage rate is 66%. The child safety usage rate is 82% in Louisiana; 55%, nationally. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission projects planned for FY 1998-99 would provide public information/education activities and overtime enforcement patrols throughout the state. An observational survey is conducted annually in Louisiana to determine usage rates.

5. In FY 1998-99, the Administrative Program will upgrade signage on the roadways in six local communities.

1 Measured in federal fiscal years.

Explanatory Note: The roadway safety activity is funded by the Federal Highway Administration at approximately $180,000 per year. Funds are used to upgrade signage on roadways in local communities to be in compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development requires roadway signage to be in compliance with MUTCD, but does not provide funding to local communities for this activity. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission grant funding is providing to a local community in two phases: (1) inventory and (2) acquisition and installation.

SOURCE OF FUNDING

This program is funded with Interagency Transfers, 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 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 94.7% of the existing operating budget. It represents 97.9% of the total request ($3,968,640) for this program. The reduced funding is primarily due to the removal of nonrecurring carryforward grants and equipment.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

OTHER CHARGES

ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS