Problem Identification for Virginia's Highway Safety Plan

About the report:

Problem identification is recognized as an important component of highway safety planning. Under the NHTSA/FHWA concept, problem identification is the first step in program planning and in the development of effective countermeasure programs. The annual highway safety plan (HSP) is the major planning tool used by the Virginia Department of Transportation Safety in meeting its objectives and in responding to the federal reporting requirements. Over the past 10 years, the HSP production process has become more efficient and responsive to state and local planning needs. However, the methodology applied in analyzing accident data and in evaluating trends has remained virtually unchanged since the process was initiated. Although the results of the problem identification process fulfill the federal reporting requirements, they are not applied as effectively as they could be to comprehensive highway safety program planning. This report describes Virginia's highway safety problem identification process and provides recommendations for changes in the administrative organization of the process and in the analytical methodology. The current methodology for the identification of systems support and impact problems is described and illustrated using 1980 data.

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