Pavement Safety

Pavement safety includes the structural aspects of the road that have an impact on safe driving conditions. Examples of pavement safety challenges include pavement texture, durability, and drainage.

This section provides information on pavement safety and low-cost solutions.

Training

Converting Paved Roads to Unpaved Roads

Created: Tuesday April 4th, 2017
Source: Western Transportation Institute
Topic: Engineering, Road
Sub-Topic: Context Sensitive Solutions, Low Cost Countermeasures, Pavement Safety, Road Surface Conditions, Safety Countermeasures

The National Center for Rural Road Safety (Safety Center) and the Center for Environmentally Sustainable Transportation in Cold Climates (CESTiCC) co-hosted a F ... [ Read More » ]

Fact Sheet

Rumble Strip Implementation Fact Sheet

Created: Wednesday December 21st, 2016
Source: Federal Highway Administration
Topic: Engineering, Road
Sub-Topic: Low Cost Countermeasures, Pavement Safety, Road Departure, Road Surface Conditions

This fact sheet discusses installing rumble strips on new or existing pavements. It includes discussions on pavement suitability for rumble strip implementation ... [ Read More » ]

General Report

Breakthroughs in Vision and Visibility for Highway Safety Workshop Summary Report

Created: Thursday June 23rd, 2016
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe Center
Sponsor: Federal Highway Administration
Topic: Engineering, Road
Sub-Topic: Pavement Safety, Retro-reflectivity and Nighttime Visibility, Safety Countermeasures

“On August 13-14, 2014, at the Turner-Fairbanks Highway Research Center in McLean, VA, the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Office of ... [ Read More » ]

Website

High Friction Surface Treatments (HFST)

Posted: Wednesday February 3rd, 2016
Source: USDOT FHWA Office of Safety
Topic: Engineering, Road
Sub-Topic: Pavement Safety, Road Surface Conditions

“Maintaining the appropriate amount of pavement friction is critical for safe driving.” “High friction surface treatment (HFST) is an emerging ... [ Read More » ]

Safety Edge (SM)

Posted: Monday February 1st, 2016
Source: USDOT FHWA Office of Safety
Topic: Engineering, Road
Sub-Topic: Geometric Design, Low Cost Countermeasures, Pavement Safety, Road Departure, Road Surface Conditions, Roadside Design/Safety, Safety Countermeasures

“Pavement edge drop-off on highways has been linked to many serious crashes, including fatal collisions. To mitigate vertical drop-offs, FHWA advocates in ... [ Read More » ]

Technical Guide/Manual

2015 National Roadway Safety Awards Noteworthy Practices Guide

Created: Monday December 7th, 2015
Source: Roadway Safety Foundation
Topic: Engineering, Road
Sub-Topic: Highway Safety Improvement Program (HISP), Low Cost Countermeasures, Pavement Safety, Retro-reflectivity and Nighttime Visibility, Road Departure, Road Surface Conditions, Safety Countermeasures

It is an honor to formally recognize the extraordinary achievements of those selected for the 2015 National Roadway Safety Awards. The individuals, groups, and ... [ Read More » ]

Safety Compass Newsletter

Published: Tuesday September 1st, 2015
Source: USDOT FHWA Office of Safety
Topic: Education, Engineering, Road, Road User
Sub-Topic: Bicycle Safety, Child Passenger Safety, Cross Jurisdictional Safety Planning, Highway Safety Improvement Program (HISP), Pavement Safety, Retro-reflectivity and Nighttime Visibility, Roles and Responsibilities for Elected Officials, Speed Management Systems

Fall 2015 issue of the Safety Compass Newsletter. This issue contains the following articles: The Focused Approach to Safety Helps Us “Practice What [W ... [ Read More » ]

Technical Guide/Manual

Manual for Selecting Safety Improvements on High Risk Rural Roads

Created: Friday August 1st, 2014
Source: Science Applications International Corporation
Sponsor: Federal Highway Administration
Topic: Engineering, Road, Road User
Sub-Topic: Geometric Design, Highway Safety Improvement Program (HISP), Intersection Design/Safety, Low Cost Countermeasures, Pavement Safety, Pedestrian Safety, Road Departure, Road Safety Audits, Road Surface Conditions, Roadside Design/Safety, Roundabouts, Safety Countermeasures

This manual provides information on the costs and benefits of safety treatments on high-risk rural roads (HRRR). Agencies can use this manual to determine the f ... [ Read More » ]

Journal-Trade-Magazine

Influence of Roadway Surface Discontinuities on Safety

Published: Friday May 1st, 2009
Source: Surface Properties - Vehicle Interaction Committee Transportation Research Board
Publication: Transportation Research Circular
Volume: Number E-C134
Topic: Engineering, Road
Sub-Topic: Geometric Design, Pavement Safety, Road Departure, Road Surface Conditions, Roadside Design/Safety

“As the commitment to improve highway safety emerged in the late 1960s and the philosophy of safer roadsides and clear zones took hold nationally there we ... [ Read More » ]

Technical Guide/Manual

Safety Impacts of Pavement Edge Drop-offs

Created: Friday September 1st, 2006
Source: Center for Transportation Research And Education, Iowa State University
Sponsor: AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety
Topic: Engineering, Road
Sub-Topic: Geometric Design, Pavement Safety, Road Surface Conditions, Roadside Design/Safety

“This report, and the preceding study, The Elimination or Mitigation of Hazards Associated with Pavement Edge Drop-offs During Roadway Resurfacing, by J. ... [ Read More » ]