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The Mid-East Rural Planning Organization (MERPO) has partnered with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Traffic Safety Unit to create a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to improve regional traffic safety. The goals and objectives for this plan come directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) recommendations for building safer transportation networks through the Safe Systems Approach. The five pillars of the Safe Systems Approach are Safer Roads, Safer Speeds, Safer Road Users, Safer Vehicles, and improved Post-Crash Care. The goals and vision of this plan apply these five pillars through creating SMART goals to address these issues within the MERPO jurisdiction. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound, which allows this plan to create a feasible path toward the overarching goal of Safe Systems Approach of eliminating all traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.
 

Below are a few examples of how the five pillars from the Safe Systems Approach are applied to prevent, and ultimately eliminate, traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. These applications include roadway design, driver education, improved safety signage, and investment in rapid emergency response. These examples represent the types of strategies that can be used in the MERPO region to create a safer mobility network across all three counties.

1. Safer Roads: Design and maintain roadways that minimize the potential for severe crashes.

2. Safer Speeds: Encourage operating speeds that are appropriate to roadway function, surrounding lane use, and transportation modes used along the roadway.

3. Safer Road Users: Promote responsible and safe behavior among all users, recognizing that humans make mistakes.

4. Safer Vehicles: Promote vehicle practices that reduce crash risk and severity.

5. Post-Crash Care: Provide rapid, coordinated emergency response.
 

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Existing Conditions
 

The Mid-East Rural Planning Organization (Mid-East RPO) conducted an existing conditions analysis to evaluate transportation safety challenges and patterns. Key findings from the crash analysis include the types, locations, and factors contributing most to serious and fatal crashes. This memorandum is a key step in informing the development of the Safety Action Plan and guiding the selection of proven strategies to address roadway safety challenges across the Mid-East RPO region.

Between 2020 and 2024, the region experienced 14,684 reported vehicle crashes, including 116 fatal and 286 serious injury crashes. Between 2015 and 2024, 165 pedestrian and 62 bicyclist crashes occurred, including 120 fatalities or serious injuries. There are several key findings from the analysis:

- Lane departure crashes tended to be the most severe as they accounted for nearly 60 percent of all fatalities and serious injuries.

- Pedestrian and bicycle crashes, though less common, account for a disproportionate share of serious outcomes, with concentrations of these crashes in Washington, Williamston, and Farmville. 

- Speed, alcohol or drug use, poor lighting, and high-speed rural roads further contributed to serious crashes, highlighting key areas for targeted safety improvements.

These findings highlight the need for targeted corridor improvements, better infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists, and stronger enforcement and education. The analysis clarifies where and why severe crashes occur and identifies key crash types and factors. This understanding positions the project team for the next steps, including the evaluation of countermeasures, the identification and prioritization of project locations, and the preparation for upcoming outreach and implementation.
 

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​​MID-EAST RURAL PLANNING ORGANIZATION

1502 N MARKET STREET, SUITE A

WASHINGTON, NC 27889​

​A Program of the Mid-East Commission

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