Consideration and Implementation of Proven Safety Countermeasures

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Consideration and Implementation of Proven Safety
Countermeasures

• Jerry Roche, P.E.
• Safety Mobility Engineer
• FHWA Iowa Division

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Background/Purpose of Guidance

• New policy memo July 10, 2008
• Committed to reducing fatalities and serious
  injuries on our nations roadways
• Comprehensive mix of strategies required,
  including STRONGER POLICIES to support
  system-wide and sustainable improvements
• Every federally funded project should include
  appropriate safety enhancement features.

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Proven Safety Countermeasures

• Road Safety Audits
• Rumble Strips Rumble Stripes
• Median Barriers
• Safety Edge
• Roundabouts
• Left Right Turn Lanes _at_ Stop-Controlled
  Intersections
• Yellow Change Intervals
• Medians Pedestrian Refuge Areas
• Walkways

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1. Road Safety Audits

• Each State DOT should develop an RSA Policy for
  conducting RSAs
• should cover Federal-aid highway projects, as a
  minimum, and preferably all highway projects
  under jurisdiction of the State DOT.
• The policy should include.
• Which projects?
• When?
• Types of projects?
• Cost thresholds?
• Who and how?

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2. Rumble Strips Stripes

• Should be provided on all new rural freeways and
  on all new rural two-lane highways with travel
  speeds of 50 mph or greater
• State 3R and 4R policies should consider
• Installation of centerline rumble strips
  (stripes) under certain conditions
• Installation of continuous shoulder rumble strips
  under certain conditions

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3. Median Barriers

• Each State should update its median barrier
  policy to be consistent with the 2006 Roadside
  Design Guide Chapter 6 revision
• Where median barriers are determined to be
  needed, States should give strong consideration
  to cable median barrier, based on its performance
  history

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4. Safety Edge

• Each State should implement policies and
  procedures to incorporate the Safety Edge on all
  Federal-aid paving and resurfacing projects with
  certain surface differentials
• Each Division should work with other agencies to
  prioritize and determine how the Safety Edge can
  eventually be installed on all routes over time

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5. Roundabouts

• The preferred safety alternative for a wide range
  of intersections
• Should be considered for all new federally-funded
  intersections (based on road volume)
• Should also be considered for all existing
  intersections identified as needing improvements
• Be cognizant of accessibility requirements

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6. Left Right Turn Lanes

• Should be considered for the major road
  approaches for improving safety at 3- and 4-leg
  intersections with two-way stop control,
  factoring volume and crash history
• Should consider accommodation of peds and bikes

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7. Yellow Change Intervals

• Yellow signal timing interval should be
  determined at intersections using kinematics
  formula and factoring in the prevailing speed of
  traffic
• Additional interval time should be considered for
  locations with significant truck traffic, older
  drivers, or if more than 3 percent of the traffic
  is entering on red

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Medians Pedestrian Refuge

• Should be considered in curbed sections of
  multi-lane roadways, particularly in areas with
  mixtures of high pedestrians and traffic volumes
  and high travel speeds
• Should be at least 4 feet wide and of adequate
  length to accommodate pedestrians

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Walkways

• Accessible sidewalks or pathways should be
  provided in urban areas, particularly near school
  zone and transit locations
• Walkable shoulders (minimum 4 ft.) should be
  provided on rural highways routinely used by
  pedestrians

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Open Discussion

• Any clarifying questions?
• What obstacles do you see in implementing this
  guidance?
• Which countermeasures could benefit your agency
  the most?
• What are your thoughts on how to measure
  progress?
• How helpful is this guidance?
• What other guidance is needed?