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 PercentDEARBORN, 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