Roadside Safety Proven Countermeasures Emmett McDevitt Transportation Safety Engineer Federal Highway Administration
Safety Statistics On average each year 43,000 + people die in traffic related crashes. On average 3.2 Million are injured Family Co-Workers Friends
Major League Baseball Field Seating capacity 41,000 to 47,000 Population of Phoenix Arizona 3,251,876
National Safety Objectives Roadway Departure Intersections Pedestrians
National Safety Objectives Roadway departure Minimize roadway departures Reduce severity of roadway departures
Run-Off Off-the-Road Average of 14,000+ fatalities per year About 39% of total average fatalities
Intersections Average of 8500+ fatalities per year; About 21% of total average fatalities
Pedestrians Average of 4500+ fatalities per year About 11% of total average fatalities
Run-off off-road Crashes 42% occur on curves 50% in rural areas 42% are rollovers and life threatening events 25% are collisions with trees
Run-Off Off-the-Road Problem +1/3 of all Traffic Fatalities 2/3 on 2-lane 2 roads 1/2 at night
Run-off off-the-road Inattention Reasons Poor visibility Speeding Impaired Driving Avoidance of obstacle
Welcome to Boise
RUMBLE STRIPS Milled-in Centerline Rumble Strips
Quick History Rumble Strips NYSTA Retrofitted entire system in the years between 1992-1996 1996 Entire NYS system of Interstates, Expressways and Freeways were retro-fitted by late 1990 s Both enjoyed an average 65% reduction in ROTR accidents
Shoulder Rumble Strips Studies show reductions in ROR crashes with presence of shoulder rumble strips. 70 % Pennsylvania Turnpike, 1994 34 % New Jersey Turnpike, 1995 65 % New York State, 1998 72 % New York Thruway, 1994 42 % Massachusetts Turnpike, 1997 18 % Washington, 1991 49 % California Interstate, 1998 34 % Kansas Turnpike, 1991
Rumble Stripes Night + Rain Conditions
Experimental use of: Wet reflective PM s Grooved in PM Grooved in High profile beads (1.9 index) Grooved in Wet-reflective tape Grooved in True Wet reflective paint with elements
Grooved in True Wet Reflective Element
The Problem
Dangerous Drop-Offs
The Cause Erosion from tires Erosion from weather Successive overlays without sufficient backfill
The Result
The Solution Safety Edge
Wedge Joint
Better Guidance and Delineation
HORIZONTAL CURVES Widened/Stabilized Lane or Shoulder on Inside of Curve, Cheverons if appropriate
Priority Order of Treatment Remove obstacle Make potential hazard traversable Relocate obstacle Reduce impact severity Shield obstacle Delineate obstacle
Run-off off-the-road Solutions Remove obstacle BEFORE AFTER Digitally enhanced photograph
Eliminate Need for Guiderail
Fixed Objects
Priority Order of Treatment Remove obstacle Make potential hazard traversable Relocate obstacle Reduce impact severity Shield obstacle Delineate obstacle
Before After
What s wrong with this picture?
SLOPES, EMBANKMENTS AND DITCHES VERTICAL DROP-OFF UTILITY POLE IN DITCH NON-TRAVERSABLE FORESLOPE
Roadside Hazard Fatalities Tree 28% Other 10% Conc. Barrier 2% Br. Rail 2% Sign Post 6% Fence 4% Culvert 5% Curb 6% Embankment 10% Utility Pole 9% Guardrail 10% Ditch 8%
Priority Order of Treatment Remove obstacle Make potential hazard traversable Relocate obstacle Reduce impact severity Shield obstacle Delineate obstacle
Run-off off-the-road Relocate obstacle BEFORE AFTER
Priority Order of Treatment Remove obstacle Make potential hazard traversable Relocate obstacle Reduce impact severity Shield obstacle Delineate obstacle
Run-off off-the-road Reduce impact severity with Crashworthy Devices
Priority Order of Treatment Remove obstacle Make potential hazard traversable Relocate obstacle Reduce impact severity Shield obstacle Delineate obstacle
Shielding the object
Roadside Hazard Fatalities Tree 28% Other 10% Conc. Barrier 2% Br. Rail 2% Sign Post 6% Fence 4% Culvert 5% Curb 6% Embankment 10% Utility Pole 9% Guardrail 10% Ditch 8%
Priority Order of Treatment Remove obstacle Make potential hazard traversable Relocate obstacle Reduce impact severity Shield obstacle Delineate obstacle
Run-off off-the-road Delineate obstacle
Better Guidance and Delineation
Warn Run-Off Off-the-Road Remove Relocate Reduce Impact Shield Delineate