2010 Crash Study Summary
The City of Lincoln conducts Traffic Crash Analyses annually to help plan for safety improvements to the City's roadway infrastructure. Effective safety improvements rely on a careful analysis of traffic crash data. The annual crash study provides quantifiable results that are used to assist decision makers in selecting, prioritizing and implementing safety projects Citywide.
Download the 2010 Crash Report (1.44 M) 
Historical Crash Trends
Over the 20-year period ending in 2010, the estimated daily vehicle miles traveled and number of registered vehicles (in Lancaster County) increased annually, while the total number of crashes has decreased. The crash rate has also steadily decreased over the past 20 years for all crash severities.
The City of Lincoln's safety program has resulted in positive benefits and improving results. This can be attributed to a number of factors:
- An increase in traffic operations and safety knowledge
- Improved design standards
- Improved access management standards
- Intelligent transportation systems (ITS)
- Improved safety devices along roadways
- Implementation of safety improvements
- Traffic enforcement and education
Daily Miles Traveled & Registered Vehicles vs. Total Crashes
2010 Crash Data
During the year 2010 there were 7,710 crashes on the streets of Lincoln. Utilizing this number of crashes and their corresponding severity, a monetary value can be calculated from these events. This value is based upon societal crash cost information included in the Highway Safety Manual (HSM). The table at right summarizes this impact for year 2010.
2010 Crash Costs
| Crash Type | 2010 Crashes | Total Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Fatal | 7 | $35,917,700 |
| Injury | 1,710 | $178,695,000 |
| PDO | 3,729 | $34,306,800 |
| NR | 2,264 | $2,264,000 |
| Total | 7,710 | $251,183,500 |
In 2010, 82 intersections were identified as having a high overall crash rate or a specific crash pattern. There were 174 countermeasures recommended and, if implemented, will significantly improve safety and reduce costs to society. The total cost of all countermeasures, if implemented today, is $13.5 million. If all countermeasures were implemented, the overall benefit to cost ratio is estimated at 22:1.
Allstate America's Best Drivers Report
Allstate ranks the largest 200 cities in the United States and releases the information in it's annual Allstate America's Best Drivers Report. The 2011 report rankings are based on reported property damage claims that the company receives over a two-year period. In the seventh annual report, Lincoln ranks third, behind Fort Collins, Colorado and Boise, Idaho. Based upon the average of the past seven years' reports, Lincoln ranks first among its peer cities with populations ranging from 224,000 to 284,000.
Safety Effectiveness
As part of this year's study, a list was gathered of 33 intersections where countermeasures had been identified and implemented since 2003. Improvements range from low cost (installations of signs) to high cost (total intersection reconstruction). The crash history for each intersection was evaluated before and after the intersection improvements were identified. In summary:
- To date, the City has been able to secure nearly $8 million in federal funding to support local safety projects
- To date, the intersection improvements have resulted in societal cost savings of over $37 million in comprehensive crash costs
- If the crash trends continue, the projected net benefits are estimated to be nearly $123 million over the service life of these projects
