The region 5 Traffic Safety Pooled Fund is proposed to be a collaborative research program through a pooled fund. This program will address high priorty safety-related research of common interest to the six state departments of transportattion in USDOT's Region 5. It will also leverage the expertise and research activites of the region's universities.

The objectives of the pooled fund is: * to conduct traffic safety research of high priority to the Regions 5 state DOT's with an ultimate goal of producing findings that will assist agencies in reducing fatalities and life-changing injuries; * create a venue for safety engineers in Region 5 to share information, stay informed of current safety-related research, and collaborate to intiate new research of importance in the region; *use academic resources at the Roadway Safety Institute universities to foster existing expertise and grow additional expertise to address safety issues of regional interest.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will serve as the lead state for the pooled fund. MnDOT will partner with the Roadway Safety Institute at the University of Minnesota to manage the Pooled Fund acitivites. A designated representative from each of the Pooled Fund member agencies will meet periodically to identify research topics, select projects, and stay informated of safety-related research.

It is anticipated that the Region 5 Traffic Safety Pooled Fund research priorities will evolve and change over time. The above topics may change or be removed, and additional topics may be added for consideration by member agencies. This will enable the Pooled Fund to adapt to an ever-changing traffic safety environment.