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Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Receives National Roadway Safety Award
December 4, 2003
Gail
Tucker
KY Transportation Cabinet
The
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) recently received a national
award for an innovative safety project that has reduced the number
of accidents at a busy Louisville intersection.
The Brook
and Jefferson streets intersection in downtown Louisville, with
32,000 vehicles a day, was also a frequent scene for accidents
and near-accidents. Engineers and law enforcement officials debated
the problem for years and wondered what could be done to make
the intersection safer.
The Auto Incident Recording System (AIRS), consisting of
video cameras, microphones, computers and a video recording system,
was installed in July, 2001. This technology allowed the intersection
to be monitored 24/7. The "problem" was discovered right
away--the data collected on AIRS showed that 50% of the crashes
and 33% of the near crashes were associated with identical illegal
left turns. Following the installation of additional signage and
curb extensions, the crash number has been cut in half.
James C. Codell,
III, KYTC Secretary, received the award in Washington, DC from
the Roadway Safety Foundation and the Federal Highway Administration.
This project was one of 13 selected from more than 130 entries
as an initiative for saving lives by improving roadway design,
operations and overall planning.
The monitoring system is part of the Traffic Management System
in the Greater Louisville Area (TRIMARC) project, which is managed
by Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. The Louisville Metro Police
and Public Works Department have also been partners with KYTC
in this safety endeavor.
TRIMARC has
12 large over-the-interstate signs giving current travel information.
Three give estimated travel times to major interchanges and there
is a Web site (www.trimarc.org). TRIMARC has a Monday through
Friday television program that airs on Channel 25 in Louisville.
In cooperation with AAA Kentucky, TRIMARC operates freeway service
patrols (Freeway Friends) to provide free roadside assistance
to stranded motorists.
The equipment will be moved in the next few months to another
high-incident location to collect similar data. It is only used
for improving safety and for research purposes and not for enforcement.
Louisville is the only US installation for this equipment, developed
by Mitsubishi Electric Company of Japan. Two officials from Japan
attended a November news conference where the award was announced.
They were excited that their technology (first designed to help
people improve their golf game) was now being used to improve
safety on the roadways.
Next time
you travel through this intersection, remember that every sound
is recorded-that includes sounds from your car, as well as comments
you might be making to other drivers!
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