Project
Characteristics |
High
Visible Enforcement
Response Training for First Responders
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Program
Areas |
Police
Traffic Services |
Type
of Jurisdiction |
Urban,
Metro St. Louis |
Targeted
Population |
Aggressive
Drivers on the Interstate System |
Jurisdiction
Size |
26,000 |
Funding |
Section
402: $50,000 |
Contact |
Bill
Whitfield
MO Div. of Hwy. Safety
PO Box 104808
Jefferson City, MO 65110
(800) 800-2358
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Digest
Listing
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MISSOURI
Maryland Heights I-270 Traffic Accident Reduction
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
A Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDot) study
found that eighty percent of the motorists involved in crashes on I-270 in
the St. Louis metropolitan area drove the same pattern each day. A section
of I-270 between Highway D and I-70 has one of the highest average daily
traffic counts (178,000) in the state. The accident rate for interstate
highways in the St. Louis Metropolitan area is 165 per million miles
traveled. MoDot has established the accident rate for northbound I-270 at
300 (per 100 million miles traveled) and that rate increases to nearly 900
(per 100 million miles traveled) for about one and one half miles that
approaches the I-70 exit ramp.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Maryland Heights Police Department sought to
establish a Traffic Crash Reduction program that through the presence of
very uniquely marked enforcement vehicles might change driving behaviors,
whether or not the enforcement vehicle was actually seen. The objectives
were to:
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Create the perception that motorists will have a
greater probability of experiencing aggressive driving enforcement on
northbound I-270 between Highway D and I-70; and
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Reduce the accident rate on I-270 each year of
the project with the rate of an average of 165 accidents per 100
million miles traveled.
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
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The Maryland Heights Police positioned a high
profile vehicle that was uniquely marked like a NASCAR racecar and
equipped with mobile video and radar interfaced with a dash mounted
Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) computer, on the targeted highway. The
vehicle remained in place 40 hours a week during the highest accident
period. The officer utilized a radio link to the Metro Traffic News
helicopter and provided traffic advisories.
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The reaction from the media and public was very
favorable. On numerous occasions the local television news reported on
the enforcement efforts and rode with the officer.
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The Maryland Heights Police Department
established a partnership with MoDot and the Maryland Heights Fire
Protection District. MoDot identified the northbound lanes of I-270 as
an “Accident Reduction Zone,” incorporating distinct warning
signs, lane restrictions, and sign restrictions. They also created
accident investigation pull-off asphalt pads to help clear the highway
quicker. MoDot incorporated the overhead changeable message boards and
tilt rotating surveillance cameras into the accident reduction zone.
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The fire district provided training for first
responders so that accidents can quickly be cleared from the highway
in order to help reduce the number of related crashes.
RESULTS
The accident rate for a section of northbound I-270
was determined to be 300 per 100 million miles traveled before the grant
began. During the time when the I-270 Traffic Crash Reduction Grant car
was present, the accident rate decreased to 270 (per 100 million miles
traveled) which reflects a 10 percent reduction over previous years.
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