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Module 2: The Need for Road Safety

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Learning Outcomes

• Identify safety issues unique to local and rural areas.

• Identify common challenges to improving road safety.

• Explain why road agencies and others should continually strive to improve road safety.

• Describe the role of the Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

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The Problem

Rural and Local Road Safety

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Roadway Geometry- Top of GradeRoadway Geometry- Top of Grade

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Roadway Geometry- Top of GradeRoadway Geometry- Approaching Curve Near Bottom

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Roadway Geometry- Top of GradeRoadway Geometry- Upgrade View from Center of Curve

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Roadway Geometry- Top of GradeTruck at Final Rest

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Roadway Geometry- Top of GradeView of Truck During Removal

Process

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Background

In Wisconsin:

• 83% of lane-miles are on county and local roads

• Only 40% of the vehicle miles travelled occur on county and local roads.

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Background

Source: Wisconsin DOT

Wisconsin Fatal Crashes by Year and Location, 1999 to 2008

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Background

More than 75% of More than 75% of Wisconsin fatalities Wisconsin fatalities

occur on rural roads.occur on rural roads.

Source: Wisconsin DOT

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BackgroundWisconsin Fatal Crashes by Road System

Source: Wisconsin DOT

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Background

Source: Wisconsin DOT

Wisconsin Fatalities per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled by Year and Location, 2003 to 2008

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State Strategic Highway Safety Plan

Did You Know Your State Has a Strategic Highway Safety Plan?

How Does it Affect You?

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State Strategic Highway Safety PlanWisconsin Focus Areas 1. Increase Safety Belt Use2. Improve Design/Operation of Intersections3. Create a More Effective Safety

Management System4. Reduce Speed-Related Crashes5. Reduce Impaired Driving6 and 9. Keep Vehicles on the Road and

Minimize Consequences of Leaving The Roadway

7. Design Safer Work Zones8. Reduce Head-On and Cross-Median Crashes10. Increase Driver Safety Awareness

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What are Potential Safety Issues?

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Safety Issues:• Narrow roadway• Pavement markings• Poor stopping sight distance• Steep side slopes• Gravel and stones on the roadway

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What are Potential Safety Issues?

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Safety Issues:• Water on roadway• No shoulder/edgeline

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What are Potential Safety Issues?

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Safety Issues:• Bleeding pavement• Lack of delineation

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What are Potential Safety Issues?

Safety Issues:• Trees in clear zone• Limited sight distance• Lack of signs and delineation

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What are Potential Safety Issues?

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Safety Issues:• Fixed objects in clear zone• Unrecoverable steep side slopes

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What are Potential Safety Issues?

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Safety Issue:• Bridge structure is a fixed object

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What are Potential Safety Issues?

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Safety Issue:• Pavement edge drop-off

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What are Potential Safety Issues?2-23

Safety Issues:• Faded pavement markings• Concrete fixed object

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What are Potential Safety Issues?

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Safety Issue:• Deteriorated sign retroreflectivity

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What are Potential Safety Issues?

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Safety Issue:• Fence blocks sidewalk path

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Road Users

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Challenges to Road Safety

Limited…

• Budgets• Staffing • Time• Crash data• Traffic and road information• Understanding or awareness of safety issues• Training

In addition to…

• Lack of coordination between agencies

• Competing priorities

• Politics

• Staff turnover

• Empowerment

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Ways to Overcome Some Challenges

• Develop safety awareness• Identify what to look for• Identify simple, low cost ways to improve

road safety• Incorporate safety into the “Big Picture”

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REVIEW

What are some of the safety issues that can occur in rural areas?

• Drainage• Steep drop-offs• Trees close to the roadway• Poor lighting• Sharp curves• Steep hills• Inadequate signage

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REVIEW

Name some common challenges to improving road safety.

• Limited budget and resources

• Inadequate crash data

• Lack of coordination between

departments/staff

• Limited understanding of safety issues

• Limited training

• Politics

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REVIEW

What is the purpose of a Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)?

Each state is required to have a SHSP, which

includes engineering, management,

education, enforcement, and emergency

service elements of highway safety as key

factors in evaluating highway safety

projects.

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REVIEW

How does the condition of the roadside potentially increase the chances of a crash?

• A roadside with numerous fixed objects

and/or steep side slopes means that the

vehicle will strike something or roll over

before it can be stopped or re-directed.

• A safe roadside allows the driver to safely

stop the vehicle or get back on the

roadway.

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The Need for Road Safety

Questions?