Crash Analysis Tools and Training for Local Users (Best Practices)
Joyce Emery/Robert Shultz, Iowa Department of Transportation,  joyce.emery@dot.state.la.us
Abstract, Bio
Telephone:  (515) 239-1016
           AND
J. Thomas Bruff, Engineering Coordinator, SEMCOG,  bruff@semcog.org
Telephone:  313-961-4266

This presentation will discuss the collaborative effort between Iowa DOT and SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments relating to their two well known safety practices. This partnership has allowed both agencies to build on the others strengths: Iowa DOT's training methods and SEMCOG safety tools.

Iowa DOT will discuss Iowa's analysis training.  This training focuses on the "circuit rider" model in which the trainer goes to the customer.  It is driven by customer demand, but procedures are in place to keep the program sufficient and affordable.

Since the late 1970s SEMCOG has been integrating safety into its regional planning process. This led to the development of two traffic safety tools: the SEMCOG Traffic Safety Manual and Comprehensive Analysis Safety Tool (CAST) software. These traffic safety tools describe to users what data to gather and how to manage it, how to identify high-crash locations and their causes using a peer group analysis, and how to evaluate relevant solutions through a benefit/cost analysis. SEMCOG provides these tools to local government agencies and traffic safety partners throughout the Southeast Michigan region. It should be noted that the CAST software automats the analysis process and provides users with the most current 3-years of crash data.