Section 6: Evaluation Overview

Background

Traffic safety efforts involve four basic steps:
  1. Problem identification.
  2. Countermeasure development.
  3. Countermeasure implementation.
  4. Evaluation.
Project evaluation brings the traffic safety process full circle, as the results help managers determine whether or not any of the preceding steps need adjustments. For this reason, evaluation is an ongoing process in the management of the Texas Behavioral Traffic Safety Program.

Purpose of Evaluation

Evaluation allows all involved to:
  • Assess project or program effectiveness.
  • Improve countermeasures.
  • Allocate scarce resources more efficiently.
Without evaluations, subgrantees, project directors, and program directors and managers could not know:
  • When to make adjustments to countermeasure development or implementation.
  • If programs and individual projects are accomplishing their intended results.
  • If one program is more or less effective than another.

Why Evaluation is Sometimes Neglected

Evaluation is sometimes neglected because it:
  • May be time consuming.
  • Does not by itself enhance program or project effectiveness.
  • Sometimes yields unwelcome or discouraging results.

Decision Outcomes

Using evaluation results, project managers arrive at one of three possible decision outcomes:
  • To continue with the activity as it is.
  • To modify the activity to improve performance.
  • To place the subgrantee on “High Risk” status or cancel the activity for lack of progress or poor performance.