A Synopsis of the 2nd Annual Traffic Engineering & Safety Forum

Keywords: Safety Forum

“We are in the business of saving lives!” exclaimed Rudy Umbs, PE (Chief Highway Safety Engineer, FHWA, Office of Safety) on one day as Tom Welch (State Transportation Safety Engineer, Iowa DOT) asked the question, “What will it take to move the numbers?” on the second. The keynote speakers for the 2nd Annual Traffic Engineering & Safety Forum were full of passion for their cause, as were the nearly 200 participants who attended two days of sessions on a variety of topics. Backed by the New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner, Kris Kolluri, safety-related issues have enjoyed continued success.

The importance of developing and implementing safety strategies and actions that encompass engineering, education, enforcement, and emergency medical services are paramount to reducing traffic fatalities across the country. In 2005, New Jersey experienced close to 750 traffic fatalities and over 320,000 crashes. The Comprehensive Strategic Highway Safety Plan (CSHSP or “The Plan”) is vital in our efforts to reduce fatalities and crashes across the state and is a requirement of SAFETEA-LU. “The Plan” creates a cooperative partnership between key agencies that will effect positive change in critical areas, and a safer future in the years to come. The theme this year was Driving Down Deaths, with breakout sessions covering eight of New Jersey’s CSHSP.

The attendees were a diverse group encompassing representatives from the “4 E’s of Safety”: Engineering, Education, Enforcement, and Emergency Medical Services. Awards in each of these categories were given to excellent safety initiatives in the State of New Jersey. Parsippany-Troy Hills was the recipient of the Engineering award, in recognition of incorporating traffic safety into their circulation plan. In recognition of the expansions to the Emergency Medical Services reporting system, Chuck McSweeney from the Department of Health and Senior Services was presented with the Emergency Medical Services award. For the Education award, in recognition of contributions to community-wide traffic safety education, the Randolph Township Police Department was commended. The Freehold Township Police Department was the recipient of the Enforcement award, in recognition of crash reductions using various methodologies.

The event proved a success, not only in bringing all facets of safety partners together, but in helping them to learn from one another. The Safety Forum was co-sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and Rutgers’ Transportation Safety Resource Center at CAIT. It is hoped that through continued cooperation, the safety partners of New Jersey can indeed improve our safety.

Sarah Weissman, Transportation Safety Resource Center