Washington Tribal Traffic Safety Summit Report

Herbel, Susan; Kleiner, Bernardo · 2009 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Federal Lands Highway

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Summary

This report documents the Washington Tribal Traffic Safety Summit, held in May 2009, which addressed the disproportionately high rates of motor vehicle fatalities among Native Americans in Washington State. While national traffic fatalities declined between 1975 and 2002, fatal crashes on Indian reservations increased by over 50 percent. In Washington, Native Americans die in traffic crashes at a rate two to three times higher than other racial groups, with motor vehicle injuries being the leading cause of death for Native Americans up to age 44. The summit was motivated by the need to align Tribal safety initiatives with Washington’s "Target Zero" Strategic Highway Safety Plan, which aims for zero traffic deaths and disabling injuries by 2030. The summit brought together representatives from Washington’s 29 Tribes, federal agencies (FHWA, NHTSA, BIA), and state entities (WSDOT, Washington State Patrol, Washington Traffic Safety Commission). The methodology centered on education and action, utilizing plenary sessions and breakout groups focused on the "4Es" of safety: engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency medical services (EMS). Participants examined the critical role of accurate crash data, noting that Tribal roadway data is often underreported. Discussions highlighted the need for multidisciplinary collaboration, citing the Colville Tribes’ Traffic Safety Task Force as a model for integrating community members, law enforcement, and health services. Key findings and recommendations emerged from the breakout sessions. For education, participants urged the involvement of Tribal Elders as champions and the development of consistent safety messages. Enforcement recommendations included establishing partnerships with the Northwest Association of Tribal Enforcement Officers and ensuring consistent application of Tribal laws regarding speeding and DUI. Engineering suggestions focused on integrating Tribal design standards into state planning, improving rural road delineation, and addressing pedestrian safety. EMS recommendations called for gap analyses of response times and demonstration projects to improve rural emergency care. A central theme was the necessity of improving data collection and sharing between Tribes and WSDOT to identify high-crash locations and evaluate countermeasures. The significance of the summit lies in its concrete steps toward integrating Tribal priorities into state safety frameworks. The recommendations were incorporated into the update of Washington’s Target Zero plan and resulted in four specific action items from the Centennial Accord, including the development of briefing papers on BIA grant programs and increased Tribal involvement in safety planning. The report concludes that while state leadership is strong, local grassroots initiatives and tailored approaches for each Tribe are imperative to reduce fatalities. It emphasizes that building trusting relationships and facilitating data sharing are essential for the successful implementation of safety countermeasures on Tribal lands.

Key finding

The summit produced specific recommendations for integrating Tribal safety needs into the Target Zero plan, including the formation of Tribal Traffic Safety Task Forces and improved data sharing protocols.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Provenance

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Topics

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• traffic safety culture