State Highway Safety Report (2022) - Colorado - State - Reporting - Transportation Performance Management

State Highway Safety Report (2022) - Colorado

The following provides a summary of the Highway Safety Improvement Program's (HSIP) safety performance measures and State safety performance targets. As per 23 CFR 490.209(a), States are required to set annual safety performance targets in the HSIP annual report for the number of fatalities, rate of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), number of serious injuries, rate of serious injures per 100 million VMT, and number of non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries. The safety performance targets are based on 5-year rolling averages. States have the flexibility to use the methodology they deem most appropriate when establishing safety performance targets. FHWA encourages States to review data sets and trends and consider factors that may affect targets. The safety performance targets should be data-driven, realistic, and attainable and should align with the performance management framework and legislative intent.

A State Department of Transportation (DOT) has met or made significant progress towards meeting its safety performance targets when at least four of the five safety performance targets established under 23 CFR 490.209(a) have been met or the actual outcome is better than the baseline performance. The baseline performance is the 5-year average ending with the year prior to the establishment of the target.

The Basis for Target and Additional Comments are provided by the State in their HSIP Annual Report and have not been edited by FHWA. Any questions about individual State reports should be directed to the respective State DOT. For additional information about each State's HSIP, the complete reports are available at https://highways.dot.gov/safety/hsip/reporting.

More information and resources on Safety Performance Management are available at https://highways.dot.gov/safety/hsip/spm/safety-performance-management-safety-pm-overview.

All State data used to populate the State Highway Safety Reports for 2022 are available for download at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tpm/reporting/state/tpm_dashboard_data.zip.

Number of Fatalities

Number of Fatalities	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Annual	608	648	632	597	622	691	764
5-Year Average					621.4	638.0	661.2
Target (5-Year Average)							597.0	668.0	716.0

Basis for Number of Fatalities Target
Although forecast models using regression and exponential smoothing models were applied to predict 2022 numbers, the increase in fatalities and decrease in travel volume in the pandemic year of 2020 were deemed too uncertain as far as how it could accurately project the number of fatalities and serious injuries in subsequent years. As a result, CDOT executive leadership directed that calendar 2019 numbers shall be used as the target for the 2018-2022 five-year average. Although these targets are aspirational, CDOT continues to implement its STSP and had made progress within the last reporting period by establishing a safety champion, coordinating existing safety programs, prioritizing safety in transportation planning, promoting proven safety countermeasures and implementing systemic safety improvement strategies to help achieve these targets.

The CDOT Office of Transportation Safety (OTS, which is also the SHSO) and the CDOT Traffic Safety and Engineering Services (TSE) branch coordinate with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to evaluate historical crash data and develop various trend models. The OTS and TSE branch then evaluate the results, consider factors like the SHSP goals, and then agree what to set for the CY 2023 targets.

The CDOT Office of Transportation Safety (OTS, which is also the SHSO) and the CDOT Traffic Safety and Engineering Services (TSE) branch coordinate with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to evaluate historical crash data and develop various trend models. The OTS and TSE branch then evaluate the results, consider factors like the SHSP goals, and then agree what to set for the CY 2024 targets.
Data Sources:
Fatalities: 2016-2021 Final FARS, 2022 FARS Annual Report File
Targets: 2021-2023 Colorado HSIP Annual Reports

Fatality Rate (per 100 million VMT)

Fatality Rate (per 100 million VMT)	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Annual	1.17	1.21	1.17	1.09	1.28	1.28	1.42
5-Year Average					1.184	1.206	1.248
Target (5-Year Average)							1.093	1.262	1.358

Basis for Fatality Rate Target
Although forecast models using regression and exponential smoothing models were applied to predict 2022 numbers, the increase in fatalities and decrease in travel volume in the pandemic year of 2020 were deemed too uncertain as far as how it could accurately project the number of fatalities and serious injuries in subsequent years. As a result, CDOT executive leadership directed that calendar 2019 numbers shall be used as the target for the 2018-2022 five-year average. Although these targets are aspirational, CDOT continues to implement its STSP and had made progress within the last reporting period by establishing a safety champion, coordinating existing safety programs, prioritizing safety in transportation planning, promoting proven safety countermeasures and implementing systemic safety improvement strategies to help achieve these targets.

The CDOT Office of Transportation Safety (OTS, which is also the SHSO) and the CDOT Traffic Safety and Engineering Services (TSE) branch coordinate with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to evaluate historical crash data and develop various trend models. The OTS and TSE branch then evaluate the results, consider factors like the SHSP goals, and then agree what to set for the CY 2023 targets.

The CDOT Office of Transportation Safety (OTS, which is also the SHSO) and the CDOT Traffic Safety and Engineering Services (TSE) branch coordinate with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to evaluate historical crash data and develop various trend models. The OTS and TSE branch then evaluate the results, consider factors like the SHSP goals, and then agree what to set for the CY 2024 targets.
Data Sources:
Fatalities: 2016-2021 Final FARS, 2022 FARS Annual Report File
VMT: 2016-2022 FHWA Highway Statistics Series, VM-2 Table
Targets: 2021-2023 Colorado HSIP Annual Reports

Number of Serious Injuries

Number of Serious Injuries	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Annual	3,093	3,049	3,410	3,200	2,896	3,673	3,705
5-Year Average					3,129.6	3,245.6	3,376.8
Target (5-Year Average)							3,194.0	3,041.0	3,507.0

Basis for Number of Serious Injuries Target
Although forecast models using regression and exponential smoothing models were applied to predict 2022 numbers, the increase in fatalities and decrease in travel volume in the pandemic year of 2020 were deemed too uncertain as far as how it could accurately project the number of fatalities and serious injuries in subsequent years. As a result, CDOT executive leadership directed that calendar 2019 numbers shall be used as the target for the 2018-2022 five-year average. Although these targets are aspirational, CDOT continues to implement its STSP and had made progress within the last reporting period by establishing a safety champion, coordinating existing safety programs, prioritizing safety in transportation planning, promoting proven safety countermeasures and implementing systemic safety improvement strategies to help achieve these targets.

The CDOT Office of Transportation Safety (OTS, which is also the SHSO) and the CDOT Traffic Safety and Engineering Services (TSE) branch coordinate with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to evaluate historical crash data and develop various trend models. The OTS and TSE branch then evaluate the results, consider factors like the SHSP goals, and then agree what to set for the CY 2023 targets.

The CDOT Office of Transportation Safety (OTS, which is also the SHSO) and the CDOT Traffic Safety and Engineering Services (TSE) branch coordinate with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to evaluate historical crash data and develop various trend models. The OTS and TSE branch then evaluate the results, consider factors like the SHSP goals, and then agree what to set for the CY 2024 targets.
Data Sources:
Serious Injuries: 2023 Colorado HSIP Annual Report
Targets: 2021-2023 Colorado HSIP Annual Reports

Rate of Serious Injuries (per 100 million VMT)

Rate of Serious Injuries (per 100 million VMT)	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Annual	5.93	5.71	6.32	5.86	5.95	6.82	6.87
5-Year Average					5.954	6.132	6.364
Target (5-Year Average)							5.846	5.794	6.528

Basis for Serious Injury Rate Target
Although forecast models using regression and exponential smoothing models were applied to predict 2022 numbers, the increase in fatalities and decrease in travel volume in the pandemic year of 2020 were deemed too uncertain as far as how it could accurately project the number of fatalities and serious injuries in subsequent years. As a result, CDOT executive leadership directed that calendar 2019 numbers shall be used as the target for the 2018-2022 five-year average. Although these targets are aspirational, CDOT continues to implement its STSP and had made progress within the last reporting period by establishing a safety champion, coordinating existing safety programs, prioritizing safety in transportation planning, promoting proven safety countermeasures and implementing systemic safety improvement strategies to help achieve these targets.

The CDOT Office of Transportation Safety (OTS, which is also the SHSO) and the CDOT Traffic Safety and Engineering Services (TSE) branch coordinate with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to evaluate historical crash data and develop various trend models. The OTS and TSE branch then evaluate the results, consider factors like the SHSP goals, and then agree what to set for the CY 2023 targets.

The CDOT Office of Transportation Safety (OTS, which is also the SHSO) and the CDOT Traffic Safety and Engineering Services (TSE) branch coordinate with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to evaluate historical crash data and develop various trend models. The OTS and TSE branch then evaluate the results, consider factors like the SHSP goals, and then agree what to set for the CY 2024 targets.
Data Sources:
Serious Injuries: 2023 Colorado HSIP Annual Report
VMT: 2016-2022 FHWA Highway Statistics Series, VM-2 Table
Targets: 2021-2023 Colorado HSIP Annual Reports

Number of Non-Motorized Fatalities and Serious Injuries

Number of Non-Motorized Fatalities and Serious Injuries	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Annual	575	583	577	540	468	633	662
5-Year Average					548.6	560.2	576.0
Target (5-Year Average)							571.0	548.0	572.0

Basis for Number of Non-Motorized Fatalities and Serious Injuries Target
Although forecast models using regression and exponential smoothing models were applied to predict 2022 numbers, the increase in fatalities and decrease in travel volume in the pandemic year of 2020 were deemed too uncertain as far as how it could accurately project the number of fatalities and serious injuries in subsequent years. As a result, CDOT executive leadership directed that calendar 2019 numbers shall be used as the target for the 2018-2022 five-year average. Although these targets are aspirational, CDOT continues to implement its STSP and had made progress within the last reporting period by establishing a safety champion, coordinating existing safety programs, prioritizing safety in transportation planning, promoting proven safety countermeasures and implementing systemic safety improvement strategies to help achieve these targets.

The CDOT Office of Transportation Safety (OTS, which is also the SHSO) and the CDOT Traffic Safety and Engineering Services (TSE) branch coordinate with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to evaluate historical crash data and develop various trend models. The OTS and TSE branch then evaluate the results, consider factors like the SHSP goals, and then agree what to set for the CY 2023 targets.

The CDOT Office of Transportation Safety (OTS, which is also the SHSO) and the CDOT Traffic Safety and Engineering Services (TSE) branch coordinate with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to evaluate historical crash data and develop various trend models. The OTS and TSE branch then evaluate the results, consider factors like the SHSP goals, and then agree what to set for the CY 2024 targets.
Data Sources:
Fatalities: 2016-2021 Final FARS, 2022 FARS Annual Report File
Serious Injuries: 2023 Colorado HSIP Annual Report
Targets: 2021-2023 Colorado HSIP Annual Reports

Additional Comments

2022 Comments:

Colorado did not meet or make significant progress toward achieving its safety performance targets for calendar year 2019.

Safety Performance Target Assessment

PLEASE NOTE: Each State’s safety performance target assessment is based on its own State-specific target methodology and program philosophy. Therefore, conclusions should not be drawn based only on the information in the Safety Performance Target Assessment Summary table. For example, the State may have set aggressive targets, and not met those targets, while another State may have set more easily attainable targets, and met those targets. FHWA understands that each State’s safety program is unique and therefore does not prescribe a methodology for States to set targets. States have the flexibility to use the methodology they deem most appropriate when setting their safety performance targets.

Colorado 2022 Safety Performance Target Assessment
Performance Measure	2018-2022 Target	2018-2022 Actual	2016-2020 Baseline	Met Target?	Better Than Baseline?	Met or Made Significant Progress?
Number of Fatalities	597.0	661.2	621.4	No	No	No
Rate of Fatalities	1.093	1.248	1.184	No	No
Number of Serious Injuries	3,194.0	3,376.8	3,129.6	No	No
Rate of Serious Injuries	5.846	6.364	5.954	No	No
Number of non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries	571.0	576.0	548.6	No	No

Transportation Performance Management