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ITD recognized for roadway safety excellence

The Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Traffic and Highway Safety (OTHS) recently was recognized for its outstanding work in crash data collection and analysis. The Idaho OTHS was one of 14 winners of a national 2005 Roadway Safety Award from the Federal Highway Administration and the Roadway Safety Foundation.

The OTHS was recognized for creating two innovative software programs, IMPACT 2K (Idaho Mobile Program for Accident CollecTion) and WebCARS. Together, the software package provides information that helps safety officials identify problem areas and develop strategies for increasing safety on Idaho’s roads.

This is the second time in 2005 the software package has garnered a national award. In August, IMPACT and WebCARS won the Peter O' Rouke Special Achievement Award from the Governors' Highway Safety Association.

“IMPACT 2K makes it easier and faster for officers to fully report traffic crash details,” says Greg Fredericksen of OTHS. “Experienced police officers tell us they can complete a crash report using IMPACT 2K in less than half the time it takes to create a paper version.”

The software creates an electronic version of the standard Idaho Vehicle Crash Report. Law enforcement agencies create, store and send the crash reports electronically, creating a completely paperless reporting system. IMPACT 2K also uses Easy Street Draw for collision sketching. Users can generate a detailed crash scene in minutes.

Idaho’s WebCARS software complements the IMPACT 2K program and assists in the analysis of motor vehicle crash data. The IOTHS developed the Internet-based tool and provides it free of charge to all local agencies.

When used in conjunction with IMPACT 2K, WebCARS allows crash data to be analyzed as early as the day after it is electronically transmitted to the IOTHS, providing law enforcement access to near real-time crash analysis.

“Timely and accurate collision data is critical to effective safety programs,” Fredericksen adds. “From WebCARS, agencies can get information about specific safety issues, such as high accident locations, intersection analysis or listing accidents by street.”

The Federal Highway Administration and the Roadway Safety Foundation (RSF) present the bi-annual Roadway Safety Awards to programs and projects across the nation exhibiting excellence in roadway design, operations and planning.

The Roadway Safety Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable and educational organization solely dedicated to reducing the reducing the frequency and severity of motor vehicle crashes by improving the safety of America's roadways.