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Search the Noteworthy Practices database Law Enforcement Partnership with Engineering - IllinoisOriginal publication: SHSP Implementation Process Model, Supplement Number 1 – Case Studies; FHWA-SA-10-025; 2010 (PDF, 1MB)Publication Year: 2010Key Accomplishments
The Illinois DOT’s (IDOT) Bureau of Safety Engineering developed a strong partnership with law enforcement resulting in improved safety outcomes. In 2005, when the Bureau of Safety Engineering was created, it took on the responsibility of photo enforcement formerly handled by IDOT operations. By assuming this responsibility, the Bureau began working directly with the Illinois State Police who managed this effort in work zones. At the same time, the State was developing its first SHSP and recognizing the importance of collaboration among the 4Es of safety. During a meeting involving law enforcement and engineers, police noted that when it rained on I-55 north of Springfield, cars were going off the road. The Bureau engineers investigated and identified a pavement friction issue, which they fixed. This experience served as a catalyst to ramping up collaboration between law enforcement and engineers, and IDOT started to integrate enforcement at district meetings as a regular part of doing business. IDOT began working closely with local law enforcement, particularly in high fatal crash counties. When IDOT identified a high fatal crash rate in Williamson County, the State safety engineer contacted the Williamson County Sheriff’s office to discuss the problem and identify solutions. The State safety engineer discussed the SHSP and explained that funding was available to support an integrated approach such as road safety audits and education to complement enforcement. Williamson County then developed a local comprehensive safety plan identifying locations with severe crash problems. In partnership with law enforcement, the county conducted RSAs, and IDOT implemented several safety projects with HSIP funding. IDOT took this same approach in other Illinois counties with high fatal crash rates. IDOT has emphasized cross-disciplinary education among engineers and law enforcement. For example, law enforcement officers serve as instructors conducting safety training as well as attending safety courses, which have included RSA training and a class on the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Law enforcement previously did not realize it had other tools to change behavior beyond writing tickets but have learned that they can contribute their knowledge of driver behavior to improve the roadway system. Engineers typically do not think about where police can pull over violators when they are designing roadways but are now incorporating law enforcement needs into their work. Law enforcement has gained a much better understanding of how crash report data is used by engineers to make roadway improvements, which is resulting in better data. Accountability among law enforcement on safety has increased. For example, at monthly meetings Illinois State Police commanders review roadway fatality trends. If the numbers are down in a particular area, the commander is asked to explain what they are doing that is working so others can learn from them. If numbers are up, they are required to explain what steps they plan to take to reverse the trend. This effort also encourages the Illinois State Police to work with local law enforcement. Given increasingly stretched resources, the State Police have recognized that to effectively get the numbers down, they must target patrols using the safety data. IDOT provides law enforcement with a list of hazardous locations in the State’s “5 Percent Report” so they can target enforcement to those locations. ResultsOverall in Illinois, from 2004 to 2008, fatalities have decreased 23 percent, from 1,355 to 1,043. Since implementation of the SHSP was started in 2006, fatalities on the local system have dropped from 50 percent to 42 percent of total fatalities in 2009. As a result of the problem identification, improvements, data-driven enforcement, and education conducted in Williamson County the number of fatalities has been cut sharply, from 18 in 2006 to 11 in 2009, based on a three-year rolling average. Contact: Publication Year: 2010 |