CMF Update, Winter 2013
The winter 2013 edition of CMF Update is the eighth edition of the Crash Modification Factors Clearinghouse e-newsletter. To subscribe, please visit http://www.cmfclearinghouse.org/newsletter_signup.php.
To view archived issues, please visit
http://www.cmfclearinghouse.org/newsletter.php.
CMF Clearinghouse webinar -- Register today!
Research Meets Practice: Identifying and Applying CMFs
Monday, Dec. 16
2:00-3:30 Eastern
Register here
Join transportation engineers, designers and planners from across the country to learn about CMF Clearinghouse updates and the application of CMFs!
Daniel Carter, senior engineering research associate at the UNC Highway Safety Research Center and manager of the CMF Clearinghouse, will begin with a brief tutorial on the recently updated search and filtering features of the Clearinghouse website, as well as a review of some of the CMFs that have been added within the past year. Following Daniel, several presenters will address the application of CMFs in various scenarios.
Often, it is possible to use more than one countermeasure at a given location. But then can you multiply the CMFs to estimate their combined effect? Not always! Dr. Frank Gross, Highway Safety Engineer with VHB, Inc., will explain and demonstrate the engineering judgment that must be exercised when estimating combined effect of multiple countermeasures at a given location.
In addition, you will hear from 2-3 state practitioners on how they are applying CMFs to document design decisions and prioritize projects within their agencies.
Continuing education: Attendees will be eligible to receive a certificate of completion for 1.5 hours that can be applied toward Professional Development Hours (PDH) credit, per State requirements. This event will also be submitted for American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) credits.
Questions? Contact Daniel Carter at daniel_carter@unc.edu for more information.
Featured CMFs
The CMF Clearinghouse is continually updated with new CMFs. Below are CMFs recently added to the Clearinghouse database.
Widen paved shoulder from 3 ft to 6 ft
Crash Modification Factor (CMF) Value: 0.85
Star Quality Rating: 
Install centerline and shoulder rumble strips
Crash Modification Factor (CMF) Value: 0.44
Star Quality Rating: 
Install cable median barrier (high tension)
Crash Modification Factor (CMF) Value: 0.799
Star Quality Rating:
Featured resource: Countermeasures that Work
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently published the seventh edition of Countermeasures that Work, a reference guide to assist those involved in highway safety in selecting effective, evidence-based countermeasures for traffic safety problem areas. All chapters of the guide were revised and updated, and information and research studies through May 31, 2012, were reviewed and included as appropriate. Several new countermeasures were introduced in this edition, including countermeasures addressing:
- alcohol vendor compliance checks
- minimum drinking age law enforcement
- strengthening child/youth occupant restraint laws
- cell phone/text messaging enforcement
- pedestrian gap acceptance training
- bicycle safety education for bike commuters
- bicyclist passing laws
The report is available in the resources section of the CMF Clearinghouse website. For more information about Countermeasures that Work, contact Kristie Johnson at Kristie.Johnson@dot.gov.
Featured FAQ: How can I refer to a specific CMF in the Clearinghouse?
It may be the case that you have selected a particular CMF from the Clearinghouse and you would like to refer to that CMF in a report or communications with other users. To this end, each CMF has a unique ID number (i.e., 3127). This CMF ID is listed at the top of the CMF details page (the page that provides all the details about a particular CMF). Additionally, the CMF details page for each CMF has a unique URL (internet address). For example, the link to the details page for CMF #3127 would be http://www.cmfclearinghouse.org/detail.php?facid=3127. The CMF ID is noticeable as the final characters at the end of that URL.
If you would like to locate a specific CMF using the CMF ID number, there are two methods. First, the Clearinghouse search mechanism provides an option for searching for a “Single CMF ID” via a drop down menu on the homepage search. Simply type in the ID number, choose “Single CMF ID,” and hit submit. Second, you can modify the URL of any CMF details page by replacing the final numbers with the ID number of the CMF of interest.
Submit a study
The CMF Clearinghouse welcomes CMF study submissions to be included in its searchable database. Please use the provided form at http://cmfclearinghouse.org/pubsubmit.php to submit your study. Be sure to search before submitting a new CMF as it may already be listed. You may either submit a link to a resource already existing on the web (preferred) or upload your own file. Submissions might include published research studies that are not presented in the Clearinghouse, or state-specific CMFs that were developed as part of the Highway Safety Improvement Program.
