City of Detroit, AAA Michigan Pilot Project Reduces Crashes by 40 Percent
28 January 1998
City of Detroit, AAA Michigan Pilot Project Reduces Crashes by 40 Percent
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 28 -- An historic City of Detroit/AAA
Michigan pilot project designed to improve urban roadway safety has done just
that. Preliminary studies conducted at Seven Mile and Ryan -- the first
intersection in Detroit to benefit from program funding -- reveal a 40-percent
reduction in crashes and a 77-percent reduction in injuries during a seven-
month study period (June-December 1997).
The intersection of Seven Mile and Ryan -- where Pershing High School is
located--was the first to benefit from a AAA Michigan grant of $20,500,
leveraging other funding to provide $36,100 worth of improvements, including
re-timed traffic signals, larger signal heads and a center left-turn lane.
According to Dr. Tapan Datta of the Wayne State University Civil
Engineering Department, preliminary data from this site suggests that an
annual crash reduction of at least 35 percent will be possible.
"Clearly, the unique partnership between the City of Detroit and AAA
Michigan is saving lives," said Mayor Dennis Archer. "We are encouraged by
the progress so far and we look forward to more successful projects which will
improve the safety and security of our residents."
"The results are better than we hoped for," said AAA Michigan President
and CEO Ron Steffens, who indicated that initial estimates projected annual
crash reductions of between 15 and 25 percent. "Based on these crash
reductions, the potential for societal savings is high in terms of human
suffering, work loss and medical costs, not to mention insurance claim costs."
The partnership between AAA Michigan and the City of Detroit -- supported
by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), Michigan Department
of Transportation (MDOT), Wayne County Department of Public Services, Michigan
State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) and Wayne State
University Civil Engineering Department -- is believed to be the first of its
kind in the nation.
Modeled after a road improvement program begun by the Insurance Company of
British Columbia (ICBC), the first phase of AAA Michigan's initiative targets
five high-crash locations in Detroit:
1) Seven Mile and Ryan (completed),
2) Seven Mile and John R (completed),
3) Hubbell and Puritan (completed),
4) Woodward Avenue between Sibley/Adelaide and Pilgrim/Ferris (underway,
in partnership with MDOT) and
5) Evergreen and Schoolcraft (contract being bid, in partnership with
Wayne County).
Work on all five roadway sections is expected to be completed within two
years. A similar road improvement project in Grand Rapids is in the
planning/analysis phase with construction scheduled to begin in the
spring/summer of 1998.
"Safety improvements have traditionally been a high priority when
allocating highway funds," said Steffens. "In recent years, however, road
agencies have been less able to address many infrastructure needs. The result
is roadway deterioration and neglect, which contributes to higher crash rates,
higher injury rates and higher insurance claim costs."
According to Steffens, the goal of the AAA Michigan Road Improvement Pilot
Project is to reduce the frequency and severity of motor vehicle crashes at
high-risk locations. Costs for the improvements are being shared between AAA
Michigan, the City of Detroit, Wayne County, and the Michigan Department of
Transportation (MDOT), based on the jurisdiction for each site.
"This project is win-win for everyone," said Steffens. "We are confident
-- and the data backs us up -- that this is an investment for the future with
healthy dividends. We look forward to continued collaboration with our
partners to pioneer this innovative safety strategy in Michigan."
SOURCE AAA Michigan
