Transportation Performance Management

State Highway Safety Report (2021) - Idaho

The following provides a summary of the Highway Safety Improvement Program's (HSIP) safety performance measures and State safety performance targets. As per the Safety PM Final Rule, 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 2021 are available for download at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tpm/reporting/state/tpm_dashboard_data.zip.

• 

  Number of Fatalities

• Number of Fatalities	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
  Annual	216	253	245	234	224	214	271
  5-Year Average					234.4	234.0	237.6
  Target (5-Year Average)							247.0	245.0	244.0

• Basis for Number of Fatalities Target

  • 2021 Target
  • 2022 Target
  • 2023 Target

  The target was established using trend analysis. It supports the SHSP goal of reducing fatalities on Idaho roadways.

  The target was established using trend analysis. It supports the SHSP goal of reducing fatalities on Idaho roadways.

  The primary focus of the highway safety program has been, and will continue to be, the elimination of traffic related fatalities, serious injuries, and economic losses. The results of the problem identification process are used by the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) to assure that resources are directed to areas most appropriate for achieving the primary target and showing the greatest return on investment. Performance measures and targets are consistent with both NHTSA requirements and the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) targets and are aligned with the Highway Safety Improvement Plan (HSIP).The SHSP helps coordinate targets and highway safety programs across the state. The collaborative process of developing and implementing the SHSP helps safety partners work together to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Idaho roadways. The SHSP links to all other highway safety plans. The HSIP, a core Federal aid program administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), requires that states update and regularly evaluate SHSPs. Other federal aid programs under the Department of Transportation must also tie their programs to the SHSP. These programs include the HSP and the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Program (CVSP), funded through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The shared data between the plans enables the plans to have the same core targets. The targets are determined by examining the trend of past data to determine likely future performance. The OHS tries to set targets that are reasonable. Targets are set and performance is measured using five-year averages and five-year rates. For example, the 2016-2020 benchmark is comprised of five years of crash data and exposure data for the years 2016 through 2020.The data used to determine the target for number of fatalities is provided by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) and can be found at the State Traffic Safety Information website.

  
  

• Data Sources:
  Fatalities: 2015-2020 Final FARS, 2021 FARS Annual Report File
  Targets: 2020-2022 Idaho HSIP Annual Reports

• 

  Fatality Rate (per 100 million VMT)

• Fatality Rate (per 100 million VMT)	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
  Annual	1.30	1.47	1.42	1.32	1.24	1.23	1.40
  5-Year Average					1.350	1.336	1.322
  Target (5-Year Average)							1.380	1.360	1.350

• Basis for Fatality Rate Target

  • 2021 Target
  • 2022 Target
  • 2023 Target

  The target was established using trend analysis. It supports the SHSP goal of reducing fatalities on Idaho roadways.

  The target was established using trend analysis. It supports the SHSP goal of reducing fatalities on Idaho roadways.

  The primary focus of the highway safety program has been, and will continue to be, the elimination of traffic related fatalities, serious injuries, and economic losses. The results of the problem identification process are used by the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) to assure that resources are directed to areas most appropriate for achieving the primary target and showing the greatest return on investment. Performance measures and targets are consistent with both NHTSA requirements and the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) targets and are aligned with the Highway Safety Improvement Plan (HSIP).The SHSP helps coordinate targets and highway safety programs across the state. The collaborative process of developing and implementing the SHSP helps safety partners work together to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Idaho roadways. The SHSP links to all other highway safety plans. The HSIP, a core Federal aid program administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), requires that states update and regularly evaluate SHSPs. Other federal aid programs under the Department of Transportation must also tie their programs to the SHSP. These programs include the HSP and the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Program (CVSP), funded through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The shared data between the plans enables the plans to have the same core targets. The targets are determined by examining the trend of past data to determine likely future performance. The OHS tries to set targets that are reasonable. Targets are set and performance is measured using five-year averages and five-year rates. The 5-Year Fatality Rate is the sum of the number of fatalities over the 5-year period divided by the sum of the annual vehicle miles of travel over the same 5-year period. Averaging the rates over the 5-year period is mathematically incorrect, the rates are weighted values and averaging them negates the weights (i.e. each year is not equal because the Annual Vehicle Miles Traveled (AVMT) changes). The data used to determine the target for number of fatalities in the rate is provided by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) and can be found at the State Traffic Safety Information website. The AVMT values are provided by Idaho's roadway data program.

  
  

• Data Sources:
  Fatalities: 2015-2020 Final FARS, 2021 FARS Annual Report File
  VMT: 2015-2021 FHWA Highway Statistics Series, VM-2 Table
  Targets: 2020-2022 Idaho HSIP Annual Reports

• 

  Number of Serious Injuries

• Number of Serious Injuries	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
  Annual	1,351	1,332	1,246	1,251	1,154	1,102	1,367
  5-Year Average					1,266.8	1,217.0	1,224.0
  Target (5-Year Average)							1,285.0	1,283.0	1,279.0

• Basis for Number of Serious Injuries Target

  • 2021 Target
  • 2022 Target
  • 2023 Target

  Goals are set and performance will be measured using five-year averages and five-year rates. Regression analysis in EXCEL was used to set targets. In some instances the Analyst who develops the performance measures may adjust the values based on additional information. All goals are based off of goals set for the emphasis areas within our SHSP.

  Goals are set and performance are measured using five-year averages and five-year rates. Regression analysis in EXCEL was used to set targets. In some instances the Analyst who develops the performance measures may adjust the values based on additional information. All goals are based off of goals set for the emphasis areas within our SHSP.

  The primary focus of the highway safety program has been, and will continue to be, the elimination of traffic related fatalities, serious injuries, and economic losses. The results of the problem identification process are used by the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) to assure that resources are directed to areas most appropriate for achieving the primary target and showing the greatest return on investment. Performance measures and targets are consistent with both NHTSA requirements and the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) targets and are aligned with the Highway Safety Improvement Plan (HSIP).The SHSP helps coordinate targets and highway safety programs across the state. The collaborative process of developing and implementing the SHSP helps safety partners work together to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Idaho roadways. The SHSP links to all other highway safety plans. The HSIP, a core Federal aid program administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), requires that states update and regularly evaluate SHSPs. Other federal aid programs under the Department of Transportation must also tie their programs to the SHSP. These programs include the HSP and the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Program (CVSP), funded through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The shared data between the plans enables the plans to have the same core targets. The targets are determined by examining the trend of past data to determine likely future performance. The OHS tries to set targets that are reasonable. Targets are set and performance is measured using five-year averages and five-year rates. For example, the 2016-2020 benchmark is comprised of five years of crash data and exposure data for the years 2016 through 2020.The data used to determine the target for number of serious injuries is from the Idaho crash database.

  
  

• Data Sources:
  Serious Injuries: 2022 Idaho HSIP Annual Report
  Targets: 2020-2022 Idaho HSIP Annual Reports

• 

  Rate of Serious Injuries (per 100 million VMT)

• Rate of Serious Injuries (per 100 million VMT)	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
  Annual	8.11	7.74	7.20	7.06	6.39	6.33	7.08
  5-Year Average					7.300	6.944	6.812
  Target (5-Year Average)							7.210	7.130	7.220

• Basis for Serious Injury Rate Target

  • 2021 Target
  • 2022 Target
  • 2023 Target

  Goals are set and performance will be measured using five-year averages and five-year rates. Regression analysis in EXCEL was used to set targets. In some instances the Analyst who develops the performance measures may adjust the values based on additional information. All goals are based off of goals set for the emphasis areas within our SHSP.

  Goals are set and performance are measured using five-year averages and five-year rates. Regression analysis in EXCEL was used to set targets. In some instances the Analyst who develops the performance measures may adjust the values based on additional information. All goals are based off of goals set for the emphasis areas within our SHSP.

  The primary focus of the highway safety program has been, and will continue to be, the elimination of traffic related fatalities, serious injuries, and economic losses. The results of the problem identification process are used by the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) to assure that resources are directed to areas most appropriate for achieving the primary target and showing the greatest return on investment. Performance measures and targets are consistent with both NHTSA requirements and the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) targets and are aligned with the Highway Safety Improvement Plan (HSIP).The SHSP helps coordinate targets and highway safety programs across the state. The collaborative process of developing and implementing the SHSP helps safety partners work together to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Idaho roadways. The SHSP links to all other highway safety plans. The HSIP, a core Federal aid program administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), requires that states update and regularly evaluate SHSPs. Other federal aid programs under the Department of Transportation must also tie their programs to the SHSP. These programs include the HSP and the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Program (CVSP), funded through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The shared data between the plans enables the plans to have the same core targets. The targets are determined by examining the trend of past data to determine likely future performance. The OHS tries to set targets that are reasonable. Targets are set and performance is measured using five-year averages and five-year rates. the 5-Year Serious Injury Rate is the sum of the number of serious injuries over the 5-year period divided by the sum of the annual vehicle miles of travel over the same 5-year period. Averaging the rates over the 5-year period is mathematically incorrect, the rates are weighted values and averaging them negates the weights (i.e. each year is not equal because the Annual Vehicle Miles Traveled (AVMT) changes). The data used to determine the target for number of serious injuries for the rate is from the Idaho crash databases. The AVMT values are provided by Idaho's roadway data program.

  
  

• Data Sources:
  Serious Injuries: 2022 Idaho HSIP Annual Report
  VMT: 2015-2021 FHWA Highway Statistics Series, VM-2 Table
  Targets: 2020-2022 Idaho HSIP Annual Reports

• 

  Number of Non-Motorized Fatalities and Serious Injuries

• Number of Non-Motorized Fatalities and Serious Injuries	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
  Annual	93	137	125	141	111	89	111
  5-Year Average					121.4	120.6	115.4
  Target (5-Year Average)							120.0	125.0	125.0

• Basis for Number of Non-Motorized Fatalities and Serious Injuries Target

  • 2021 Target
  • 2022 Target
  • 2023 Target

  Although trend analysis was use on setting this target, the analyst who provided these values also relied on his years of working with data. The numbers for Idaho are so low that there is a lot of variability in the data, therefore the value isn't strictly based on the trend analysis. The value supports the SHSP goal of reducing non motorized fatalities and serious injuries in Idaho. Idaho's SHSP has a section on vulnerable roadway users with Bicycle and Pedestrian being one sub group in that category. The goals are to reduce the 5 year average of bicycle involved fatal crashes to 2 bicyclist or fewer and to reduce the five year average of pedestrian involved fatal crashes to 10 or fewer pedestrians by 2020. The SHSP does not include a goal value of serious injuries but the strategies are related to reducing the number of crashes of bicyclists and pedestrians.

  Although trend analysis was use on setting this target, the analyst who provided these values also relied on his years of working with data. The numbers for Idaho are so low that there is a lot of variability in the data, therefore the value isn't strictly based on the trend analysis. The value supports the SHSP goal of reducing non motorized fatalities and serious injuries in Idaho. Idaho's SHSP has a section on vulnerable roadway users with Bicycle and Pedestrian being one sub group in that category. The SHSP does not include a goal value of serious injuries but the strategies are related to reducing the number of crashes of bicyclists and pedestrians.

  The primary focus of the highway safety program has been, and will continue to be, the elimination of traffic related fatalities, serious injuries, and economic losses. The results of the problem identification process are used by the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) to assure that resources are directed to areas most appropriate for achieving the primary target and showing the greatest return on investment. Performance measures and targets are consistent with both NHTSA requirements and the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) targets and are aligned with the Highway Safety Improvement Plan (HSIP).The SHSP helps coordinate targets and highway safety programs across the state. The collaborative process of developing and implementing the SHSP helps safety partners work together to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Idaho roadways. The SHSP links to all other highway safety plans. Data used to establish the target for non-motorized fatal and serious injuries is from the Idaho Crash Database.

  
  

• Data Sources:
  Fatalities: 2015-2020 Final FARS, 2021 FARS Annual Report File
  Serious Injuries: 2022 Idaho HSIP Annual Report
  Targets: 2020-2022 Idaho HSIP Annual Reports

Additional Comments

2023 Comments:

While using 5-year averages and rates flatten the trend lines by reducing the effect a randomly high or low year has on the 5-year value, the trend lags behind when consistent changes are occurring. The number of fatalities began decreasing in 2008 and between 2010 and 2015 were much lower (ranging from 167 to 214) than they had been in the past (usually around 270 prior to 2008). While there were no changes to Idaho’s highway safety programs or spending amounts from 2008-2015 when the decreases were taking place, the nation was experiencing an economic recession. In the past few years, as the economy has improved, the number of traffic fatalities has increased. As such, we are seeing an increasing trend in our performance measures. Idaho’s targets will reflect that increasing trend and seek to keep values from increasing back anywhere near to prior values.

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.