AASHTO Journal, 6 September 2013
Georgia Department of Transportation last week rolled out a series of videos to cut down on highway fatalities. The series stands in support of the Federal Highway Administration’s Toward Zero Deaths initiative, which encourages state transportation departments and other partners to work toward reducing highway fatalities to zero.
Highway deaths in Georgia have declined each year since 2005, when 1,748 people died on the state’s roadways. In 2012, by comparison, that number was 1,199. GDOT officials credit roundabouts, more use of cable barrier on interstates, raised center median barriers, rumble strips, better reflective signage, better traffic signal timing, and greater pedestrian accommodations for the lower fatality numbers. GDOT intends to build on that progress with its DriveSmart video series, which encourages drivers to focus their full attention on driving safely.
“We are gratified by the continuing progress being made in reducing fatal accidents on Georgia highways,” said GDOT Commissioner Keith Golden in a statement. “One death is too many, however. This educational video outreach is part of our overall effort. That work is grounded in the Governor’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, a data-driven program through which we focus on key safety initiatives attainable through what we refer to as the four E’s—education, engineering, enforcement, and emergency medical services.”
GDOT plans to release all its DriveSmart videos over the next few weeks. Those videos are available on GDOT’s website or its DriveSmart Youtube channel.