COM 0484.000 2014-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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SCHEDULE A HPD AGGRESSIVE DRIVING PROBLEM STATEMENT Idents the traffic safety related problem or deficiency that the proposed grant is intended to correct. Idents and gather appropriate data relevant to the problem. Collision/fatalities data appropriate to the identified problem and a brief analysis of the data is required. When available, three years of data should be presented and analyzed. When identfing the problem, take into consideration changes in population, traffic patterns and other demographic dynamics that may affect traffic safety. Aggressive driving has become a serious problem on our roadways. NHTSA, after discussions with law enforcement and the judiciary, defines aggressive driving as occurring when "an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property." Unfortunately, statistics are only now being developed and kept in our County in regards to aggressive driving. The following is known: • Speed is a consistent factor as one of the combination of moving traffic offenses involved in aggressive driving. • Speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that the economic costs to society of speed-related crashes to be $40.4 billion per year. Speeding-related deaths nationwide account for nearly a third of all traffic fatalities each year, taking close to 10,000 lives. • The perception of risk, i.e., whether the driver perceives that he/she will be caught speeding, is a factor in how well a posted speed limit is followed. Excessive vehicle speed (speed above that for which the roadway was designed, exceeding posted limits or speed too fast for conditions) has severe and often times disastrous effects in a crash, because speed: • Reduces a driver's ability to negotiate curves or maneuver around obstacles in the roadway. • Extends the distance necessary for a vehicle to stop. • Increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a hazard. • Compromises the integrity of the vehicle structure. • Decreases the effectiveness of vehicle design features such as airbags and restraint systems. • Decrease the ability of roadway hardware such as guardrails, barriers and impact attenuators to protect occupants. • Increases tread wear on tires and wear on braking systems. • Increases the risk of crashes because other vehicles and pedestrians may not be able to judge distance accurately. (GHSA, Survey of States Speeding Report)