Arizona Tribal Transportation Safety Summit Report

Herbel, Susan; Greene-Roesel, Ryan; Kleiner, Bernardo · 2008 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Federal Lands Highway

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Summary

The Arizona Tribal Transportation Safety Summit Report documents a collaborative meeting held in May 2008 to address disproportionately high traffic fatality rates among Native American communities in Arizona. The research problem is defined by data showing that motor vehicle crash mortality rates for Native Americans were two to three times higher than for other Arizona residents, exceeding the Healthy People 2010 objective of 16 deaths per 100,000 population. With tribal lands comprising 25% of the state’s land mass and 20% of its highway system, the summit aimed to reduce crash-related injuries and deaths by identifying safety challenges, available resources, and fostering multidisciplinary collaboration among Federal, State, and Tribal stakeholders. The study methodology involved a two-day summit organized by the Federal Highway Administration, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA), and other agencies. Participants from 22 Arizona tribes, along with state and federal officials, engaged in presentations and breakout sessions. The process focused on reviewing priority safety issues, identifying human, material, and financial resources, and developing a framework for continued dialogue. Breakout groups categorized and ranked issues across four domains: education, enforcement, infrastructure, and data. Key findings highlighted severe resource constraints, including poor infrastructure conditions and limited funding for enforcement. However, the report identified successful low-cost strategies, such as the San Carlos Apache Tribe’s single-officer DUI checkpoints, which significantly reduced crashes, and the Tohono O’odham Nation’s primary safety belt law, which increased belt use by 48%. The summit emphasized that coordination and trust are critical for overcoming resource limitations and enabling data sharing. Participants identified specific priorities, including the need for better data sharing mechanisms, improved infrastructure like warning signage and fencing, and targeted education for teens and tribal leaders. The report notes that leadership support is essential for the success of safety policies, citing examples where tribes adopted zero-tolerance alcohol policies and lowered blood alcohol content limits. The significance of the report lies in its establishment of a structured process for ongoing collaboration between tribal and non-tribal entities. It concludes that no "one-size-fits-all" solution exists due to the unique cultural and geographic diversity of the 22 tribes. The findings provide a roadmap for ITCA and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Council to focus future efforts on the most pressing issues. By documenting successful interventions and prioritizing needs, the report supports the broader state goal of "Zero Fatalities" and underscores the necessity of integrating tribal communities into statewide traffic safety planning.

Key finding

Tribal communities achieved significant reductions in traffic crashes and increased safety belt usage by implementing targeted enforcement strategies, passing supportive legislation, and utilizing low-cost, culturally appropriate education and outreach methods.

Methodology

other

Provenance

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Topics

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• traffic safety culture