Road safety report reveals alarming crash rate trends

During a recent government meeting, officials discussed critical metrics related to the safety and capacity of the county's road network. The focus was on the severe crash rate, which measures the number of serious accidents—defined as those resulting in injury or fatality—relative to traffic volume. The target for this metric is to maintain a rate below 31. In 2022, the county exceeded this target but has since seen improvements, with a detailed annual safety report expected to be presented next week.

Another key topic was the percentage of roads operating at free flow traffic capacity, which is assessed through a volume-to-capacity ratio. Recent projects, such as the Kenny Road 17 expansion, have aimed to enhance road capacity by adding features like turn lanes and shoulders. However, officials noted a decline in this metric, attributed to funding limitations and the impact of annexations that reduce road segments.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the number of structurally deficient bridges on mainline roads. This measure, which was part of a previous strategic plan aiming for zero deficiencies, is becoming less relevant as the aging infrastructure continues to present challenges. Major bridge inspections occur every two years, but as one bridge is repaired, others may emerge as deficient, complicating efforts to improve overall road safety and reliability.