Roadside SafetyRoadside Safety Proven CountermeasuresProven Countermeasures

Emmett McDevitt

Transportation Safety Engineer

Federal Highway Administration

Safety StatisticsSafety StatisticsOn average each year people die in On average each year people die in traffic related crashes.traffic related crashes.

CoCo--WorkersWorkers

43,000 +

3.2 Million3.2 MillionOn average are injuredOn average are injured

FamilyFamily

FriendsFriends

Major League Baseball FieldMajor League Baseball Field Seating capacity 41,000 to 47,000Seating capacity 41,000 to 47,000

Population of Phoenix Arizona 3,251,876

National Safety ObjectivesNational Safety ObjectivesRoadway DepartureRoadway Departure IntersectionsIntersections

PedestriansPedestrians

National Safety ObjectivesNational Safety Objectives

Roadway departureRoadway departure–– Minimize roadway departuresMinimize roadway departures–– Reduce severity of roadway departuresReduce severity of roadway departures

RunRun--OffOff--thethe--RoadRoad

Average of 14,000+ fatalities per year About 39% of total average fatalities

IntersectionsIntersections

Average of 8500+ fatalities per year; About 21% of total average fatalities

PedestriansPedestrians

Average of 4500+ fatalities per year About 11% of total average fatalities

RunRun--offoff--road Crashesroad Crashes

42% occur on curves

50% in rural areas

42% are rollovers and life threatening events

25% are collisions with trees

RunRun--OffOff--thethe--RoadRoad

ProblemProblem+1/3 of all Traffic Fatalities+1/3 of all Traffic Fatalities2/3 on 22/3 on 2--lane roads lane roads 1/2 at night1/2 at night

Avoidance of Avoidance of obstacleobstacle

RunRun--offoff--thethe--RoadRoad ReasonsReasons

SpeedingSpeeding

Impaired DrivingImpaired Driving

InattentionInattention

Poor visibilityPoor visibility

Welcome to

Boise

Milled-in

RUMBLE RUMBLE STRIPSSTRIPS

Centerline Rumble Strips

Rumble StripsRumble Strips

NYSTA Retrofitted entire system in the NYSTA Retrofitted entire system in the years between 1992years between 1992--19961996Entire NYS system of Interstates, Entire NYS system of Interstates, Expressways and Freeways were retroExpressways and Freeways were retro--fitted fitted by late 1990by late 1990’’ssBoth enjoyed an average 65% reduction in Both enjoyed an average 65% reduction in ROTR accidentsROTR accidents

Quick History

Shoulder Rumble StripsShoulder Rumble Strips Studies show reductions in ROR crashes withStudies show reductions in ROR crashes with

presence of shoulder rumble stripspresence of shoulder rumble strips..

70 % Pennsylvania Turnpike, 199470 % Pennsylvania Turnpike, 199434 % New Jersey Turnpike, 199534 % New Jersey Turnpike, 199565 % New York State, 199865 % New York State, 199872 % New York Thruway, 199472 % New York Thruway, 199442 % Massachusetts Turnpike, 199742 % Massachusetts Turnpike, 199718 % Washington, 199118 % Washington, 199149 % California Interstate, 199849 % California Interstate, 199834 % Kansas Turnpike, 199134 % Kansas Turnpike, 1991

Night + RainConditions

Rumble StripesRumble Stripes

Experimental use of:Experimental use of:

Wet reflective Wet reflective PMPM’’ssGrooved in PMGrooved in PMGrooved in High profile beads (1.9 index)Grooved in High profile beads (1.9 index)Grooved in WetGrooved in Wet--reflective tapereflective tapeGrooved in True Wet reflective paint with Grooved in True Wet reflective paint with elementselements

Grooved in True Wet Reflective ElementGrooved in True Wet Reflective Element

The Problem

Dangerous DropDangerous Drop--OffsOffs

The Cause

Erosion from tiresErosion from tiresErosion from weatherErosion from weatherSuccessive overlays without sufficient Successive overlays without sufficient backfillbackfill

The Result

The Solution

Safety Edge

Wedge JointWedge Joint

Better Guidance and DelineationBetter Guidance and Delineation

HORIZONTAL CURVES

Widened/Stabilized Lane or Shoulder on Inside of Curve, Cheverons if appropriate

Priority Order of TreatmentPriority Order of Treatment

Remove obstacle Remove obstacle Make potential hazard traversableMake potential hazard traversableRelocate obstacle Relocate obstacle Reduce impact severity Reduce impact severity Shield obstacle Shield obstacle Delineate obstacleDelineate obstacle

RunRun--offoff--thethe--Road Solutions Road Solutions Remove obstacleRemove obstacle

BEFORE

AFTERDigitally enhanced photograph

Eliminate Need for Guiderail

Fixed Fixed ObjectsObjects

Priority Order of TreatmentPriority Order of Treatment

Remove obstacle Remove obstacle Make potential hazard traversableMake potential hazard traversableRelocate obstacle Relocate obstacle Reduce impact severity Reduce impact severity Shield obstacle Shield obstacle Delineate obstacleDelineate obstacle

AfterAfter

Before

What’s wrong with this picture?

SLOPES, EMBANKMENTS AND DITCHES

UTILITY POLEIN DITCH

VERTICALDROP-OFF

NON-TRAVERSABLEFORESLOPE

Ditch8%

Sign Post6%

Fence4%

Conc. Barrier2%

Other10%

Tree28%

Embankment10%

Utility Pole9%

Br. Rail2%

Guardrail10%

Curb6%

Culvert5%

Roadside Hazard FatalitiesRoadside Hazard Fatalities

Priority Order of TreatmentPriority Order of Treatment

Remove obstacle Remove obstacle Make potential hazard traversableMake potential hazard traversableRelocate obstacle Relocate obstacle Reduce impact severity Reduce impact severity Shield obstacle Shield obstacle Delineate obstacleDelineate obstacle

RunRun--offoff--thethe--RoadRoadRelocate obstacleRelocate obstacle

BEFORE

AFTER

Priority Order of TreatmentPriority Order of Treatment

Remove obstacle Remove obstacle Make potential hazard traversableMake potential hazard traversableRelocate obstacle Relocate obstacle Reduce impact severity Reduce impact severity Shield obstacle Shield obstacle Delineate obstacleDelineate obstacle

RunRun--offoff--thethe--RoadRoadReduce impact severity with Crashworthy DevicesReduce impact severity with Crashworthy Devices

Priority Order of TreatmentPriority Order of Treatment

Remove obstacle Remove obstacle Make potential hazard traversableMake potential hazard traversableRelocate obstacle Relocate obstacle Reduce impact severity Reduce impact severity Shield obstacle Shield obstacle Delineate obstacleDelineate obstacle

Shielding the object

Ditch8%

Sign Post6%

Fence4%

Conc. Barrier2%

Other10%

Tree28%

Embankment10%

Utility Pole9%

Br. Rail2%

Guardrail10%

Curb6%

Culvert5%

Roadside Hazard FatalitiesRoadside Hazard Fatalities

Priority Order of TreatmentPriority Order of Treatment

Remove obstacle Remove obstacle Make potential hazard traversableMake potential hazard traversableRelocate obstacle Relocate obstacle Reduce impact severity Reduce impact severity Shield obstacle Shield obstacle Delineate obstacleDelineate obstacle

RunRun--offoff--thethe--RoadRoadDelineate obstacleDelineate obstacle

Better Guidance and DelineationBetter Guidance and Delineation

RunRun--OffOff--thethe--RoadRoad

Reduce ImpactReduce Impact

RemoveRemove

DelineateDelineateShieldShield

WarnWarn RelocateRelocate