AAA road improvement demonstration program: Combining the public and private sectors to improve traffic safety at urban signalized intersections in Michigan

The AAA Road Improvement Demonstration Program (AAA RIDP) is a public/private partnership designed to enhance traffic safety by reducing the frequency and severity of crashes at high-risk urban signalized intersections. Beginning in 1996 AAA Michigan partnered with state, county and city governments in Detroit and Grand Rapids to provide seed money for low cost safety improvements to the existing traffic signals and pavement markings with the goal of reducing traffic crashes at targeted high-crash intersections.; The safety improvements that were implemented included enhanced traffic signal visibility, the addition of left-turn lanes and phases, and longer all red intervals. An evaluation of the safety improvements showed statistically significant reductions in the number of vehicle crashes and personal injuries at 59 completed intersections in Detroit and Grand Rapids. These safety improvements are the result of cooperation and financial contributions by all of the public and private sector partners. The improvements have benefited society with safer roads and AAA Michigan with a positive impact to their loss reduction efforts. The AAA RIDP confirmed that since both the public and private sectors play important roles in preventing crashes and injuries that when they worked together, traffic safety could be improved.